THE  I1F 


OR 


::>QUARED 


FRANCIS  T.HOOVER 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


iV{Vi''-]\Ui',mp.niJz}imnv-jnr,Hy.ii\'! 


l)|/|lUtii£^l 


Enemies  in  the  ReaR; 


OR, 


A  GOLDEN  CIRCLE  SQUARED. 


A  STORY  OF  SOUTHEASTERN  PENNSYLVANIA  IN  THE 
TIME  OP  OUR  CIVIL  WAR. 

BY 

FRANCIS    T.    HOOVER. 


BOSTON 

ARENA  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

Copley  Square 

1895 


Copyrighted    1894, 
By  THE  ARENA  PUBLISHING  CO. 


All  Rights  Reserved. 


PREFACE. 


To  square  the  circle,  that  is,  to  determine  its  exact 
contents  in  square  measure,  has  generally  been  held  to 
be  impossible ;  but,  as  herein  appears,  the  national  gov- 
ernment solved  the  famous  problem  perfectly,  at  least  so 
far  as  it  related  to  the  Golden  Circle  of  Knights  in 
southeastern  Pennsylvania.  And  the  solution  showed 
the  exact  contents  of  this  particular  Circle  to  be  an 
admixture,  in  about  equal  parts,  of  ignorance,  hypocrisy 
and  treason. 

To  say  that  a  book  has  been  written  from  patriotic, 
unselfish  motives  is  not  always  to  give  a  sufficient 
reason  for  its  being;  nevertheless  this  plea  is  respect- 
fully offered  on  behalf  of  this  semi-historical  story.  For 
everything  connected  however  remotely  with  the 
stupendous  conflict  through  which  the  United  States 
passed  from  1861-5  is  of  interest  to  every  true 
American,  and  all  agencies  —  fiction  being  by  no 
means  the  most  insignificant  —  that  throw  light  on  any 
phase  of  the  struggle  made  by  this  great  Nation  for  its 
life,  must  be  regarded  as  legitimate  and  helpful  to  all. 
lovers  of  their  country. 

One  object  of  this  book  then  is  to  deepen  the  interest 
of  the  present  generation  in  the  history  of  the  greatest 

602959 


IV  PREFACE. 

of  all  our  wars,  and  thus  to  strengthen  their  patriotism 
and  their  appreciation  of  the  deeds  brave  men  and 
women  did,  and  of  the  sufferings  they  bore,  in  that 
decisive  period  of  our  national  existence. 

The  ocean,  when  acted  upon  by  a  strong  wind,  rolls 
its  waters  in  mighty  waves,  and  these  in  turn  produce 
smaller  waves  in  the  inlets  and  retired  coves  where  the 
wind  itself  may  be  felt  but  little,  if  at  all.  So  during 
the  war  the  agitation  and  conflict  were  not  all  confined 
to  the  army  and  navy,  the  capital  and  the  great  cities. 
Remote  districts  and  obscure  country  places  also  felt 
the  great  movements  and  were  stirred,  though  of  course, 
in  a  smaller  degree.  And  that  in  such  localities  many 
thrilling  episodes  occurred  we  can  readily  believe  if  we 
will  but  remember  that  in  those  days  there  were  enroll- 
ing officers,  drafts,  and  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle. 

What  the  side-shows  are  to  the  main  exhibition  were 
some  of  the  incidents  happening  in  neighborhoods  re- 
mote from  the  seat  of  war  to  the  greater  conflict  itself ; 
and  even  as  in  the  side-shows  queerer  objects  are  often 
to  be  seen  than  in  the  main  exliibition,  so  perhaps  in 
these  incidents  stranger  phases  of  character  and  modes 
of  thought  and  action  were  manifested  than  in  the  prin- 
cipal drama. 

As  illustrative  of  these  observations  the  march  of  the 
"Copton  Brigade"  may  be  cited.  What  more  ridicu- 
lous yet  more  strongly  indicative  of  the  sentiment  of 
multitudes  of  people  in  certain  parts  of  the  North  at  that 
period  than  that  famous  expedition?     Thus  while  we 


PREFACE.  T 

should  give  our  first  attention  to  the  great  historic  facts 
of  the  rebellion,  we  should  also  study  the  minor  events 
transpiring  away  from  the  scene  of  actual  conflict.  The 
lesser  will  often  shed  much  light  on  the  greater. 

Another  object  of  this  story  is  to  present  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Dutch,*  or  German,  character,  and  to  illustrate 
some  of  the  customs,  manners  and  superstitions  still 
prevailing  in  many  parts  of  the  territory  occupied  by 
this  singular  people. 

Although  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  are  known  of  in 
New  York  and  New  England,  it  is  usually  only  by 
name,  or  as  possessed  of  unlimited  prejudice  against 
Yankees  and  the  English  language,  an  inextinguishable 
determination  to  continue  voting  for  Andrew  Jackson, 
and  a  gigantic  predilection  for  schweitzer-kaes,  sour- 
krout  and  leberwurst. 

From  childhood  up  into  manhood  I  was  familiar  with 
the  Pennsylvania  Germans,  socially,  religiously  and 
politically,  and  in  every  instance  the  descriptions  of 
customs,  etc.,  are  faithful  to  life,  and  the  sentiments 
expressed  by  the  various  characters  in  this  work  are 
such  as  were  heard  in  those  days  in  the  community  in 
which  the  scene  is  laid.  No  injustice  has  been  done  any 
individual  or  class  of  individuals.  I  have  carefully 
sought  to  give  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  credit  for  their 


*  I  am  well  iaware  that  many  Pennsylvania  Grermans  object  to  the  word  Dutch 
as  applied  to  them,  inasmuch  as  their  fathers  were  Germans  and  not  Hollanders; 
but  I  am  equally  well  aware  that  it  is  the  usage  of  the  best  writers  —  and  in  litera- 
ture such  usage  makes  law  —  to  employ  the  terms  German  and  Dutch  synonymously 
in  this  connection,  and  I  simply  follow  them. 


VI  PEEFACE. 

many  virtues ;  I  have  not  glossed  their  faults  and  foibles. 
To  do  the  one  and  not  the  other  is  only  just. 

The  difficulties  of  language  involved  in  the  production 
of  a  narrative  whose  characters  are  mostly  members 
of  this  race,  have  not  been  forgotten.  Southeastern 
Pennsylvania  was  settled  principally  by  the  English, 
Dutch  and  Germans.  The  language  spoken  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  is  the  natural  product  growing  out 
of  the  intercourse  of  the  Germans  with  other  settlers 
speaking  English  or  Dutch.  It  is  a  mixture  of  English, 
Dutch  and  German  words,  the  last  being  largely  pre- 
ponderant, —  sadly  corrupted  in  most  instances  as  to 
form  and  pronunciation,  but  the  sentences  retaining  the 
German  idiom.  The  result  is  a  dialect,  or  patois^  such 
as  the  human  tongue  seldom  twists  itself  to  utter. 

Owing  to  the  conservative  character  of  those  who 
speak  it,  this  dialect  is  very  tenacious  of  life.  In  spite 
of  its  great  limitations,  of  the  many  years  elapsed  since 
the  Germans  first  settled  here,  of  the  vast  influx  of 
Scotch  and  Irish,  and  of  the  aggressiveness  of  English  as 
the  national  language,  Pennsylvania  Dutch  has  not  only 
survived  until  this  day,  but  is  almost  as  hardy  as  ever; 
and  although  it  must  necessarily  die  out,  yet  this  happy 
consummation  will  not  be  reached  until  after  a  long 
period.  Even  now  there  are  whole  neighborhoods  in 
which  very  few  families  can  speak  anything  save  this 
patois^  though  all  can  understand,  and  most'  can  read, 
pure  German ;  and  for  multitudes  of  school  children  in 
the  remoter  districts  the  English  primer  they  study  con- 


PEEFACE.  TU 

tains  a  dead  language.  The  common-school  and  inter- 
marriage with  descendants  of  English-speaking  nation- 
ahties  are,  however,  slowly  working  a  change. 

Now  many  of  the  characters  introduced  in  these  pages 
ordinarily  spoke  Pennsylvania  Dutch.  To  permit  them 
to  do  so  all  through  this  book  would,  it  need  not  be  said, 
defeat  everything.  It  has  therefore  been  discarded, 
except  that  here  and  there  the  peculiar  idiomatic  con- 
struction has  been  retained,  and  characteristic  words 
and  expressions  have  been  employed. 

In  view  of  these  things  there  has  been  little  room  for 
conversation  in  dialect,  but  I  am  sure  this  will  not 
detract  from  the  value  of  the  work  in  the  public  estima- 
tion. 

I  desire  in  this  place  to  acknowledge  the  courtesy 
of  the  Hon.  Samuel  L.  Young,  United  States  Commis- 
sioner at  Reading,  Pa.,  in  furnishmg  me  with  certain 
facts  relative  to  the  draft  of  1862. 

Mushville,  iV.  Y. 


CONTENTS. 


i 


CHAPTER  I. 
A  Cloud  rises 1 

CHAPTER  II. 
A  goodly  Land  and  its  chief  Owners 13 

CHAPTER  III. 
The  Ruthvon  Family 23 

CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Shadow  of  War        30 

CHAPTER  V. 
A  Yankee  in  a  Strange  Land        37 

CHAPTER  VI. 
The  old,  old  Story       48 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Tidings  of  a  great  Battle  reach  "  The  People's  Hotel."       ...       60 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
The  Country's  Call  for  Help 75 


«  CHAPTER  IX. 

k'  Pete  Prantman  wooes,  but  fails  to  win 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  X. 
A  Woman  with  a  Familiar  Spirit  sought  out 101 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Susie  Zweispringer  expresses  her  Views 120 

CHAPTER  XII. 
A  Pennsylvania  Dutch  Vendue ]  32 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
An  old  Mill,  and  Something  that  occurred  there 145 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Two  Failures  and  a  Success 160 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Uncle  Sam  pays  some  of  his  Nephews  a  Visit 174 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
A  Furlough 186 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
A  Soldier  at  "The  People's  Hotel." 194 

CHAPTER  XVIIl. 
A  Golden  Circle  of  mean  Composition 208 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Pennsylvania  Dutch  Apostle  of  an  ignoble  Gospel       .     .     .    215 


I 


CONTENTS.  XI 


» 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Huber  organizes  a  Lodge  of  Knights  of  Uie  Golden  Circle       .     .     229 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
The  Fortune-teller  has  Visitors  again       245 

ll  CHAPTER  XXII. 

An  Experiment  that  worked  both  Ways 263 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
Uncle  Sam  hears  the  Excuses  of  some  of  his  Nephews   ....    273 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
A  Rupture  in  the  Ruthvon  Home 294 

P  CHAPTER  XXV. 

Tom  Hartnagel  saves  a  Life 303 

CHAPTER  XXVL 
Dangerous  Counsels 315 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

A  Lottery  in  which  all  the  Ticket-holders  wanted  Blanks  .     .     .     322 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
The  Knights  and  some  Boys  in  Blue     ....  331 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

An  old  Church  and  a  memorable  Service  that  was  held  in  it  .     .     341 


^jj  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

The  Golden  Circle  loses  a  Member 359 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
A  "  friendly  "  Visit,  and  how  it  ended 373 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Zellon  visits  the  Fortune-teller  for  the  last  Time 385 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
The  Struggle  for  Life 400 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
Occult  Remedies 411 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
Lore  and  Hate 417 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
Uncle  Sam  captures  an  unwilling  Nephew 428 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
The  Knights  attempt  a  Rescue 446 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
The  Watch  with  the  Dead 453 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
Ghostly  midnight  Vigils 465 


CONTENTS.  xm 

CHAPTER  XL. 
A  Funeral,  and  a  funeral  Sermon 476 

CHAPTER  XLI. 
A  Pennsylvania  Dutch  funeral  Feast 489 

CHAPTER  XLII. 
Light  and  Shadow 503 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 
A  Revival  of  Golden  Circleism 518 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 

Lovina  Hartnagel  forgets  Herself 531 

CHAPTER  XLV. 

Uncle  Sam  prepares  to  square  the  Circle 544 

CHAPTER  XLVL 
The  Squaring  of  the  Circle  begins 555 

CHAPTER  XLVII. 
The  famous  March  of  the  Copton  Brigade 564 

CHAPTER  XLVIIL 
The  Squaring  of  the  Circle  completed 580 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 
The  Fortunes  of  a  Number  of  Individuals  told  ,,,....    592 


CHAPTER  I. 

A   CLOUD   RISES. 

On  a  warm  evening  about  the  middle  of  August, 
1860,  three  men  stood  in  the  door  yard  of  a  farm  house 
not  far  from  the  pretty  village  of  Haltfest  in  Berks 
County,  Pennsylvania.  One  of  the  little  group  was 
Frederick  Ruthvon,  a  well-preserved  farmer  of  fifty-five 
years  of  age,  the  owner  of  the  premises.  The  second 
was  Doctor  Henry  HeKer,  the  village  physician ;  and 
the  yovmgest  was  Charles  Ruthvon,  the  only  son  of 
Frederick  Ruthvon. 

Doctor  Heifer  was  a  fine  young  fellow  physically  and 
intellectually,  with  an  experience  of  three  years  in  his 
chosen  profession.  Blunt  in  the  expression  of  his  opin- 
ions, decisive  in  manner,  vigorous  and  courageous,  he 
possessed  withal  a  keen  sense  of  humor,  and  his  hearti- 
ness and  fund  of  good  nature  made  him  a  favorite  with 
many  even  of  those  who  differed  widely  with  him  politi- 
cally. 

This  evening  he  had  driven  over  from  the  village  to 
see  Mr.  Ruthvon  in  reference  to  the  purchase  of  some 
hay,  but  hardly  had  the  usual  greeting  been  exchanged 
before  the  two  were  engaged  in  a  hot  discussion  of  slav- 
ery and  the  pending  presidential  election. 

"  You  Abolitionists  are  bound  to  destroy  the  country 


2  ENEMIES  EST   THE   KEAB ; 

our  fathers  left  us,"  said  Mr,  Ruthvon  in  response  to  a 
remark  by  the  doctor ;  "  for  you  are  bringing  on  war 
just  as  fast  as  you  can,  and  war  will  ruin  every thmg." 

"  How  so  ?  We're  not  going  to  make  war ;  if  it  must 
come,  we'll  let  the  South  begin  it." 

"  That's  just  it,  doctor,  you're  not  going  to  begin 
war ;  oh,  no,  to  be  sure  not !  But  you're  exasperating 
the  South  with  all  your  anti-slavery  nonsense,  and  above 
aU  by  nominating  for  President  a  man  who  is  known  for 
nothing  except  cracking  low  jokes  and  hating  slavery." 

"  And  laying  out  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  your  '  Little 
Giant,' "  added  the  doctor  with  a  humorous  twinkle 
in  his  eye.  "  No,  Ruthvon ;  Abraham  Lincoln,  if 
elected,  wiU  not  do  anything  to  violate  the  constitu- 
tion." 

"  But  didn't  he  say  the  Nation  couldn't  exist  half 
slave,  half  free  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Ruthvoi*  eagerly,  advanc- 
ing closer  to  his  opponent.  "  Didn't  he  introduce  reso- 
lutions in  Congress  to  abolish  slavery  in  the  District  of 
Columbia,  and  say  somewhere  that  it  was  the  duty  of 
Congress  to  abolish  it  altogether  ?  " 

Doctor  Heifer  had  a  wonderful  way  of  using  the 
interjection  "Ho!"  at  the  beginning  of  his  remarks 
when  he  was  amused  or  deeply  interested.  He  would 
open  his  mouth  —  which  was  naturally  large  —  very 
wide,  and  then,  raising  his  voice  to  a  high  pitch,  bring 
out  the  word  with  a  vim  almost  startling  in  its  effect. 
Just  now  he  was  a  trifle  nonplused  by  Mr.  Ruthvon's 
questions.  '^Oxj 


OR,    A   GOLDEN    CIECLE    SQUARED.  3 

"  Ho  I  "  he  exclaimed,  dwelling  on  the  vowel  longer 
than  usual  to  gain  a  little  time,  "  but  when  a  man 
becomes  President  he  is  such  for  all  the  people  ;  besides, 
he  doesn't  make  the  laws,  but  simply  executes  them." 

"  But  such  a  man  isn't  to  be  trusted ;  he'll  do  any- 
thing to  further  his  selfish  ends,"  retorted  Ruthvon. 

"  While  Lincoln  hates  slavery,"  said  Heifer,  "he's  an 
honest  man  and  won't  do  anything  unconstitutional  to 
get  rid  of  it.  He  said  so  in  one  of  his  speeches  —  didn't 
he,  CharHe  ?  " 

"  I  think  he  did,  since  his  nomination,"  answered 
young  Ruthvon,  who  was  quietly  but  closely  listening 
to  the  conversation. 

"  Well, you  black  snakes  can  go  ahead,"  said  the  elder 
Ruthvon;  "I  believe  Breckenridge  will  get  in,  but, 
mark  it,  doctor  —  just  as  sure  as  Abe  Lincoln  is  elected 
the  South  will  secede,  either  peaceably  or  by  force." 

"  Ho  !  let  the  South  dare  try  it,  and,  by  the  great 
Eulenspiegel !  just  as  sure  as  the  apples  on  yonder  tree 
are  going  to  ripen  slavery  will  die,  as  it  should  have 
done  long  ago." 

"That's  what  you  fellows  are  at,"  said  Frederick 
Ruthvon,  shaking  his  finger  at  the  doctor ;  '■'•  you  are  an 
honest  man,  I  believe.  Doctor  Heifer,  but  abolitionism 
blhids  you  completely  to  the  rights  of  the  Southern  peo- 
ple. The  slaves  are  their  lawful  property  —  theirs  by 
the  highest  law  of  the  land,  the  Constitution ;  theirs  by 
the  highest  law  of  all,  the  Bible." 

"■  I  believe  that  in  so  far  as  the  Constitution  sanctions 


4  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR  ; 

slavery  it  is  an  agreement  with  hell,  just  as  Garrison 
said,"  answered  the  doctor,  fanning  himself  vigorously 
with  his  broad-brimmed  straw  hat ;  "  as  to  the  Bible,  I 
don't  pretend  to  know  much  about  it,  but  I  don't  believe 
it  upholds  slavery,  unless  you  push  it  and  twist  it  as 
Pete  Prantman  did  the  other  night  at  Baltzer's." 

"  How  was  that  ?  "  asked  Charles. 

"  He  said  the  leopard  couldn't  change  his  spots,  and 
had  always  been  hunted  and  destroyed ;  and  as  the 
Ethiopian  —  meaning  the  nigger  of  course  —  couldn't 
change  his  skin,  it  was  a  sure  sign  he  was  always  to  be 
a  slave  !  —  How's  that  for  wresting  Scripture  ?  " 

"  I  don't  believe  in  Pete  Prantman's  ability  to  explain 
the  Bible,"  answered  Ruthvon,  senior,  "but  slavery  was 
allowed  by  the  Old  Testament  and  is  not  forbidden  in 
the  New." 

"But  you  forget  about  the  provision  of  the  year  of 
Jubilee,  when  slaves  went  free,  and  that  bondmen  were 
to  be  treated  kindly,"  responded  Heifer;  "and  if  I 
understand  it,  not  one  of  the  inhuman  features  of  Amer- 
ican slavery  existed  under  the  Jewish  system.  Besides, 
Ruthvon,  the  whole  accursed  thing  is  contrary  to  the 
spirit  of  the  religion  you  profess." 

"  I  believe  there  is  —  is  — ^  a  —  something  in  the  New 
Testament  about  sanctioning  slavery  ;  it  is  in  —  in  —  I 
declare  I  can't  recall  the  place  now,"  said  Mr.  Ruthvon, 
turning  an  inquiring  look  to  his  son,  who  however 
dropped  his  eyes  to  the  ground. 

"  Ho  !  "  exclaimed  the  doctor  mischievously,  prolong- 


OE,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  6 

ing  the  word  with  great  unction,  "  I'm  sure  I  can't 
either.  I  had  a  talk  with  Yankee  Chetwynde  the  other 
day  on  this  very  point.  He  is  well  posted  in  the  Bible 
and  he  says  it's  an  anti-slavery  book,  and  his  pretty 
daughter  says  so  too,  and  she  is  even  better  posted 
than  the  old  man ;  and,  by  henker,  I  don't  believe 
Charlie  here  will  dispute  her  opinion  a  minute,^  eh, 
CharHe  ?  " 

Charles  blushed  at  this  allusion  and  appeal,  and  tried 
to  say  something  fitting.  But  his  father  was  angry,  for 
the  name  of  Jabez  Chetwynde  when  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  politics  acted  on  Frederick  Ruthvon  much 
as  a  red  cloth  is  said  to  do  on  a  wild  steer. 

"  Chetwynde  to  be  sure  !  "  he  broke  in  scornfully  and 
with  some  diffculty  repressing  his  anger  ;  — ''  Chetwynde 
to  be  sure !  A  Yankee  who  despises  us  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  as  much  as  he  hates  the  Southern  people.  He 
must  needs  tell  us  what  the  Bible  teaches  and  what  is 
right  and  wrong.  He  thinks  nobody  is  right  but  Yan- 
kees, and  his  daughter  —  well,  she  is  a  mere  child  yet." 

"  Ho  !  I  haven't  any  special  love  for  Yankees,'"  said 
the  doctor  laughing  heartily,  '^but  I  tell  you  Yankee 
ChetAvynde  is  a  rouser  on  politics  and  Scripture  —  eh, 
CharHe?  —  Say,  Ruthvon,"  he  continued,  seeing  thq 
latter  was  eager  to  reply,  "  it's  awful  hot  this  evening 
and  I  must  go,  for  it's  nearly  dark.  How  about  that 
hay?" 

"  You  can  have  all  the  hay  you  want,  doctor,  and 
without  bemg  charged  Yankee  prices  for  it  either.     It's 


6  ENEMIES     IX    THE    REAR  ; 

good  Pennsylvania  Dutch  hay,  made  right  here,  where 
no  Abolitionist  ever  lived,  and  where  none  ever  will." 

"Don't  be  too  sure  about  that,"  said  Heifer,  smiling 
and  looking  at  Charles.  "  Your  hay  is  all  right,  Ruth- 
von,  and  so  is  the  price.  Come  out  to  the  Lincoln 
meeting  at  the  lower  tavern  next  INIonday  night.  We're 
going  to  have  Van  Reed  and  Richards  and  other  good 
speakers  there.  It's  only  fair  to  hear  both  sides,  you 
know." 

"  In  this  thing  there  is  but  one  side,  doctor,"  an" 
swered  Mr.  Ruthvon. 

"■  Well,  come  anyhow  and  see  whether  it  isn't  our 
side,"  replied  the  doctor  laughing  good-naturedly  ;  "good 
night,  Ruthvon  ;  good  night,  Charlie." 

In  spite  of  their  political  differences.  Doctor  Heifer 
and  Frederick  Ruthvon  had  been  excellent  friends  ever 
since  the  former  settled  in  Haltfest  two  years  before ; 
but  on  this  occasion  Ruthvon  felt  that  the  doctor  had 
got  the  better  of  him  in  the  discussion  and  that  his 
son  was  in  part  to  blame.  So  when  his  good-humored 
adversary  was  gone,  the  farmer  was  not  in  a  very  ami- 
able mood.     He  turned  abruptly  to  Charles. 

"  Why  didn't  you  second  me  better  ?  "  said  he.  "  You 
let  that  young  ketzer  go  away  crowing  over  me, 
because  he  happened  to  remember  Scripture  better  at 
the  time.  Why  didn't  you  remind  him  of  what  Paul 
says  about  —  about  —  oh,  that  slave?  —  You  know 
whom  I  mean." 

"  Onesimus  ?  "  suggested  Charles  interrogatively. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  7 

"Yes,  of  course, —  about  Onesiinu.s,  to  —  to " 

"  Philemon  ?  "  again  suggested  Charles. 

"  Yes,  to  Philemon.  Why  am  I  such  a  dumb-head 
to-night  ?  —  Paul  writes  to  Philemon  about  Onesimus,  a 
slave,  who  had  run  away  from  his  master  and  come  to 
Paul :  —  '  whom  I  have  sent  again  :  thou  therefore  receive 
him,' — I  say,  Charles  why  did  you  not  bring  up  that?" 

"  For  one  thing,  I  did  not  happen  to  think  of  it," 
answered  the  son,  speaking  slowly  and  with  evident 
embarrassment,  "  but  even  if  I  had,  I  fear  I  should  not 
have  mentioned  it." 

"Why  not?"  asked  Mr.  Ruth  von  hastily. 

"Because  I  am  not  at  all  certain  that  that  little 
letter  of  the  New  Testament  upholds  slavery,"  answered 
Charles  in  a  very  deferential  tone. 

Mr.  Ruthvon  started,  looked  hard  at  his  son,  but  said 
nothing.  After  a  moment  he  tiu:ned  and  walked  slowly 
to  the  stoop  and  sat  down  on  the  steps.  Charles  fol- 
lowed and  sat  down  by  him.      Then  Mr.  Ruthvon  said : 

"  Well,  and  Avhat  more  ?  " 

Charles  observed  even  in  the  gathering  twilight  a 
cloud  on  his  father's  countenance ;  he  knew,  moreover, 
that  sooner  or  later  the  fact  that  he  was  harboring 
strange  political  doctrmes  must  become  known  to  his 
parent.  Indeed,  for  some  time  he  had  reproached  him- 
seK  for  playing  what  seemed  to  him  a  double  part,  but 
fear  of  his  father's  displeasure  had  hitherto  restrained 
hmi  from  revealing  his  sentiments.  Now,  however, 
he  resolved  to  speak  at  all  hazards. 


»  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR  ; 

"  Paul  tells  Philemon  to  receive  the  slave,"  said  he  in 
a  very  respectful  manner,"  '  not  now  as  a  servant,  but 
above  a  servant,  a  brother  beloved.'  He  pleads  for 
Onesimus,  and  hints  at  his  emancipation.  I  am  quite 
sure  that  our  system  of  slavery,  under  which  the  slave 
is  sold  on  the  auction-block  like  an  ox  and  separated 
from  his  wife  and  children  —  treated  as  if  God  had 
given  him  no  rights  his  master  was  bound  to  respect, — 
is  entirely  opposed  to  the  spirit  of  the  New  Testament. 
—  I  am  sorry  to  speak  so,  for  I  know  you  will  not 
agree  with  me.  I  know  some  of  the  Abolitionists  are 
hypocrites,  but  surely  some  of  them  are  sincere,  and 
there  is  much  truth  on  their  side." 

Had  the  stars  which  by  this  time  studded  the  sum- 
mer evening  sky  dropped  all  at  once  to  earth,  Frederick 
Ruthvon  could  hardly  have  been  more  astonished  than 
he  was  at  this  speech  of  his  son,  whom  he  had  taught 
to  cheer  for  Cass  and  Butler  when  but  eight  years  old, 
and  who,  timid  as  he  then  was,  had  called  Doctor 
Goettman  "  a  dirty  Whig,"  in  the  Scott-Pierce  campaign 
to  the  great  amusement  of  his  father  and  all  the  by- 
standers. Charles  even  had  a  scuffle  with  an  older  lad  who, 
four  years  later,  had  the  temerity  to  shout  for  Fremont 
and  Dayton  in  that  community,  &,nd  thus  far  he  cer- 
tainly had  given  no  token  pointing  to  political  apostasy. 
But  now  he  had  ventured  to  apologize  for  abolition 
sentiments,  and  to  question  the  righteousness  of  slav- 
ery !  Could  it  be  possible  that  Charles  was  forsaking 
the   political  principles  which  the  Ruthvons  had  cher- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED,  9 

ished  since  the  foundation  of  the  government,  and 
embracing  the  pernicious  teachings  of  Garrison  and 
Phillips  ? 

What,  thought  Mr.  Ruthvon  as  he  sat  there  that 
summer  night,  could  have  wrought  such  a  change  in  the 
lad  by  his  side,  whom  he  had  actually  sent  to  college 
from  the  township  of  Copton,  and  of  whom  he  enter- 
tained such  high  hopes  of  being  some  day  a  great 
farmer-statesman.  Influences  hitherto  unrecognized  had 
been  at  work. 

For  a  number  of  years  Charles  had  been  a  good  deal 
with  Jabez  Chetwynde,  and  from  him  learned  some- 
thing of  New  England  customs  and  opinions,  and  uncon- 
sciously received  lasting  impressions.  The  latter  were 
deepened  by  reading,  and  by  his  subsequent  intercourse 
at  college  with  young  men  coming  from  other  atmos- 
pheres and  holding  opposite  political  views.  But  he 
was  yet  very  young,  and  to  differ  with  his  father  politi- 
cally —  that  Avould  have  been  unfilial,  and  thus  far  had 
never  entered  his  mind.  A  circumstance  presently 
occurred  however  that  supplied  what  was  lacking  to 
bring  into  life  and  action  the  impressions  already 
made. 

In  May,  preceding  the  time  when  our  story  opens, 
the  venerable  President  of  a  neighboring  college  was 
invited  to  deliver  an  address  before  the  literary  society 
with  which  young  Ruthvon  was  connected  at  Penn- 
brook  College,  and  on  the  day  following,  which  was  the 
Sabbath,  to  preach  to  the  students  in  the  college  chapel. 


10  ENEMIES   IN   THE    REAR; 

Neither  the  address  nor  the  sermon  had  any  direct 
relation  to  slavery,  but  in  the  "  long  prayer  "  on  Sab- 
bath, the  President  in  simple,  pathetic  language,  be- 
sought God  to  look  in  pity  upon  the  poor  slave,  who 
though  made  in  the  divine  image,  even  as  his  master, 
was  deprived  of  his  birthright  of  liberty  and  the  pur- 
suit of  happiness.  The  effect  of  this  prayer  on  the 
young  man's  mind  was  powerful  and  almost  instantane- 
ous, and  from  that  day  a  change  appeared  in  Charles 
Ruthvon. 

During  the  seven  weeks  elapsed  since  the  close  of  the 
college  year,  it  had  not,  however,  become  apparent  to 
his  father,  except  that  the  latter  now  remembered  that 
if  Charles  happened  to  be  present  when  he  and  Doctor 
Heifer  engaged  in  political  discussion,  his  son  usually 
remained  a  quiet  listener,  and  that  the  enthusiasm  mth 
which  he  used  to  show  his  knowledge  of  history,  to  his 
father's  great  delight,  was  wanting. 

For  some  minutes  after  Charles  ceased  speaking,  Mr. 
Ruthvon  continued  in  deep  thought.  A  light  seemed 
to  dawn  upon  him.  Feeling  at  last  that  he  might  trust 
himself  to  speak,  he  addressed  his  son  in  a  calm  tone 
not  without  a  strong  tinge  of  sadness. 

"  Charlie,"  said  he,  "  I  see  you've  been  turning  your 
face  too  much  toward  Ncav  England,  where  the  Yankees 
think  wisdom  was  born,  and  where  it  will  finally  die. 
Don't  forget,  my  boy,  that  you  are  a  Pennsylvania 
German ;  don't  forsake  the  principles  of  your  fathers,  all 
of  whom  were  honest  men  and  among  whom  no  fool  was 


OE,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUAHED.  11 

ever  found.  If  you  do,  it  will  be  a  sad  day  both  for 
you  and  your  parents.  Our  ancestors  worshiped  in  the 
old  church  on  the  hill,  Charlie,  for  almost  a  century, 
and  before  that  in  an  older  building  on  the  same  spot. 
In  the  graveyard  hard  by  they  lie  buried.  There  your 
mother  and  I  have  worshiped  for  fifty  years,  and  there  " 
—  here  he  stopped  a  moment,  his  voice  choked  with 
emotion  —  "  we  '11  be  buried.  The  old  forms,  the  old 
doctrines,  were  good  enough  for  them,  and  nobody  has 
ever  yet  made  an  improvement  in  these  things. —  My 
father  and  I  went  to  the  polls  side  by  side,  the  fall  I  had 
my  first  vote,  and  both  voted  for  Andrew  Jackson. 
I'm  proud  of  that,  Charlie.  Whiggery  was  only  another 
name  for  folly,  and  abolitionism,  its  natural  fruit,  is 
now  poisoning  the  country.  Slavery  is  right,  in  spite 
of  that  Yankee  of  a  Chetwynde,  by  Schinnerhannes  ! 
The  agitation  of  the  slavery  question  is  wrong  and 
Abolitionists  are  enemies  to  the  country's  peace. —  No, 
Charlie,  not  now "  —  noticing  in  the  starlight  that  his 
son  was  eager  to  speak,  —  "  we'll  say  no  more  on  these 
matters  to-night,  lest  Ave  say  what  we  might  regret. 
Think  it  all  over  carefully,  and  remember  that  no  Ruth- 
von,  and  so  far  as  I  know,  no  Volz  either,  was  ever 
known  to  change  his  religion  or  his  politics.  Remem- 
ber, too,  that  there  were  men  of  sense  and  wisdom  in 
Copton  township  long  before  Pennbrook  College  was 
heard  of,  or  New  England  represented  in  our  neighbor- 
hood." 

Charles  was  deeply  grieved  at  his  father's  aUusion  to 


12  ENEMIES  IN   THE   REAR. 

Jabez  Chetwynde,  yet  lie  was  forced  to  acknowledge 
to  himself  that  the  insinuation  as  to  the  Yankee's  influ- 
ence over  him  was  nearer  the  mark  than  he  could  have 
believed.  Nevertheless  he  was  persuaded  that  the 
political  views  he  had  begun  to  espouse  were  in  the 
main  correct,  but  he  knew  that  his  father's  prejudices 
were  so  strong  that  argument  ^vith  him  at  present 
would  only  make  matters  worse.  He  did  indeed  desire 
to  say  that  he  meant  no  disrespect  in  what  he  had  said, 
but  his  father  had  not  permitted  him.  And  so  parent 
and  son  separated  for  the  night,  each  with  feelings 
never  experienced  before. 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  GOODLY  LAND  AJSHD  ITS  CHIEF  OWNERS. 
"  A  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey.  " 

In  Yaried  scenery,  fertility  of  soil  and  richness  of 
valuable  minerals,  no  part  of  our  wide  domain  excels 
that  portion  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  lying  south  of 
the  Kittatinny  or  Blue  Mountains,  and  between  the 
Delaware  and  the  Susquehanna  rivers.  It  is  traversed 
in  a  southwesterly  direction  by  the  romantic  South 
Mountain  range,  and  from  north  to  south  by  the  beau- 
tiful Schuylkill,  which  with  its  numerous  tributaries  — ■ 
the  Tulpehocken,  the  Ontelaunee,  the  Wyomissing,  the 
Manatawny,  the  Perkiomen,  the  Wissahickon  —  affords 
drainage  and  abundant  water  power. 

Within  this  territory  lie  the  famous  Chester,  Cones- 
toga,  Lebanon,  and  Schuylkill  valleys.  To  say  nothing 
of  the  inexhaustible  deposits  of  iron  it  contains,  this 
section  of  the  Keystone  State  comprises  an  agricultural 
region  surpassed  by  none  in  the  world,  unequaled  by 
any  in  the  extent  and  perfection  of  its  farm  buildings, 
and  approached  in  these  respects  only  by  the  Connecti- 
cut valley  and  by  Niagara  and  a  few  other  counties  of 
New  York. 

To  visit  a  farming  district  like  southeastern  Pennsyl- 
vania in  the  summer  or  autumn  is  a  delightful  privilege. 


14  ENEMIES   IlSr   THE   REAR  ; 

In  the  former  season  the  visitor  will  see  fields  of  wheat 
and  rye  the  like  of  which  he  probably  never  saw  any- 
where else,  and  in  the  latter  his  vision  will  be  greeted 
with  acres  of  corn  of  a  size  unknown  to  New  York  and 
New  England ;  with  orchards  of  luscious  apples  bringing 
promise  of  cider  and  apple-butter ;  with  vast  fields  of 
cabbage  gently  hinting  of  sauerkraut ;  and  with  herds  of 
cattle  unsurpassed  in  beauty.  At  all  seasons  there  are 
many  homes  in  which  he  will  find  cordial  welcome  and 
experience  unbounded  hospitality. 

Should  he  be  inclined  to  test  his  skill  in  catching  the 
shy  trout  or  the  gamy  bass,  or  in  hunting  the  wily  fox, 
here  are  the  lovely  streams  and  the  picturesque  moun- 
tains, ready  to  furnish  him  abundant  scope  for  its  exer- 
cise, and  perchance  also  for  that  of  his  patience.  If 
fond  of  viewing  an  extensive  and  magnificent  landscape 
—  and  Avho  is  not?  —  the  Welsh  Mountain,  Neversink, 
Cushion  Hill,  Mount  Penn,  the  Eagle's  Head  and  nu- 
merous other  peaks  will  yield  him  his  desire. 

And  now,  while  Frederick  Iluthvon  and  his  son  are 
lost  in  sleep  or  meditating  on  the  events  of  the  evening, 
let  us  ascertain  by  wdiom  the  major  portion  of  this  rich 
and  diversified  region  is  inhabited,  and  inquire  into  the 
character  of  the  people.  Then  when  we  meet  Mr. 
Ruthvon  and  Charles  and  Doctor  Heifer  again,  we  shall 
take  a  fresh  interest  in  them  and  understand  their  words 
and  actions  and  those  of  their  neighbors  better  than 
before. 


OE,     A    GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUAEED.  15 

With  the  acquisition  of  New  Netherlands  —  now  New 
York  —  from  the  Dutch,  in  1664,  the  part  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  question  also  passed  into  the  possession  of  the 
English,  who  settled  Philadelphia  and  the  more  immedi- 
ate vicinity.  But  about  the  year  1725  a  great  influx  of 
Germans  into  the  colony  began.  With  the  eagerness 
for  the  acquirement  of  desirable  material  things  so 
characteristic  of  the  race,  these,  under  the  liberal  policy 
of  the  colony  toward  non-English  settlers,  soon  possessed 
themselves  of  some  of  the  finest  lands  in  what  are  now 
Northampton,  Lehigh,  Berks,  Lebanon,  Lancaster,  Mont- 
gomery and  Chester,  Counties.  Their  descendants,  the 
Pennsylvania  Germans,  or  Dutch,  have  held  them  ever 
since,  and  comprise  one  of  the  most  substantial  elements 
of  the  population  of  the  great  Keystone  State,  but  at  the 
same  time  beyond  all  peradventure,  in  political,  educa- 
ional  and  religious  aifairs,  the  least  progressive. 

The  Pennsylvania  German*  has  long  possessed  his 
beautiful  heritage,  but  the  conservative  spirit  and  stolid 
immobility  of  his  ancestors  have  descended  to  him  as  a 
part  of  his  inheritance.  His  conservatism,  which  —  like 
conservatism  the  world  over  —  is  but  too  often  only 
another  name  for  a  compound  of  ignorance,  prejudice 
and  stubbornness,  with  a  little  rehgion  thro^vn  in  to  give 
it  a  good  flavor,  leads  him  Jargely  to  act  on  the  retarda- 
tive  principle  that  what  was  good  enough  for  his  father 
is  good  enough  for  him  and  his  children,  and  that  what 

*Tlie  characterization  of  an  individual  representing  a  people  can  never,  it  should 
be  remembered,  include  all  the  individuals  of  that  people,  nor,  indeed,  all  the  pecu- 
liar features  iu  the  character  of  any  particular  individual. 


16  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR  ; 

his  father  held  and  did  he  and  his  children  ought  to  hold 
and  do. 

If,  therefore,  his  father  was  a  Democrat,  so  is  he ;  if  a 
Whig,  he  is  a  Republican. 

For  a  long  time  he  cared  little  for  an  education 
beyond  the  simplest  rudiments.  If  his  daughters  could 
read  the  Psalter  and  the  New  Testament,  and  his  sons, 
in  addition  to  this,  write  and  cipher  a  little,  —  that  was 
all  he  got,  and  it  was  enough  for  them.  Even  now  in 
many  districts  he  keeps  open  the  common  school  but  five 
months  in  the  year,  and  '^  is  too  frequently  inclined 
practically  to  maintain  that  as  the  father  lived  and  made 
money  without  education,  so  may  the  son  ;  and  to  regard 
a  liberal  education  as  being  rather  the  accomplishment 
of  a  rogue  than  the  necessary  qualification  of  a  useful 
citizen." 

Of  his  religious  faith  he  has  often  been  heard  to  sing, 
when  certain  zealots  have  sought  to  win  him  to  their 
way  of  thinking :  — 

"  It  was  good  for  our  fathers, 
It  was  good  for  our  mothers, 
And  it  's  good  enough  for  me." 

He  hates  innovation  always,  but  especially  when  it 
hails,  as  it  so  often  does,  from  New  England.  If  he 
finally  accepts  it,  it  is  only  after  at  least  the  partial  loss 
of  ability  longer  to  resist  and  much  strong  protestation 
that  the  times  are  sadly  out  of  joint.  Thus,  while  he  is 
a  long  way  in  advance  of  his  forefathers  —  has  colleges, 
better  schools,  more  books  and  newspapers,  and  some- 


OR,     A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  17 

what  more  refinement  of  manner, —  yet  in  many  things 
he  is  very  far  behind  his  fellpw-citizens  of  Irish,  Scotch, 
or  English  descent. 

He  is  shrewd.  In  a  trade  he  is  not  a  whit  behind  his 
wide-awake  Yankee  neighbor  whom  he  so  cordially 
despises ;  but  while  the  shrewdness  of  the  Xew  Eng- 
lander  is  open  and  aggressive,  his  is  defensive  and  veiled 
with  stolidity. 

Moreover,  he  is  thrifty.  He  has  the  best  farms,  the 
fattest  oxen,  the  finest  horses,  the  biggest  cabbages.  His 
thrift  is  largely  of  a  material  nature  and  too  frequently 
is  the  child  of  penuriousness.  Very  often  his  fine  barns, 
good  stock  and  broad  acres  have  been  acquired  at  the 
expense  of  home  comforts  and  the  education  of  his  child- 
ren. The  large,  well-planned  out-buildings  come  first ; 
the  dwelling-house  to  correspond  must  wait  and  come 
later,  if  it  comes  at  all.  For  his  aesthetic  taste  is  quite 
weak.  He  has  small  faith  in  bric-a-brac  and  broken 
china.  He  prefers  things  whole.  Oscar  Wilde  he 
despises,  and  if  he  raises  sunflowers,  it  is  simply  that 
his  chickens  and  turkeys  may  grow  fatter.  He  is  just 
as  fond  of  deutscher-kaes,  pretzel,  sauerkraut  and  leber- 
wurst,  as  were  his  ancestors  before  him. 

Honest  and  truthful  is  he  likewise.  Exacting  from 
you  the  last  cent  due  him,  he  will  to  the  last  cent  render 
you  your  dues.  His  word,  once  pledged,  Avill  be  sa- 
credly kept.  He  engages  little  in  speculation ;  he  is 
essentially  an  agriculturist.  Seldom  is  he  known  as  a 
defaulter  or  as  the  wrecker  of  a  railroad.     Less  pushing 


18  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAR  ; 

than  his  neighbors,  he  has  also  avoided  some  of  their 
vices.  He  is  slow,  but  tolerably  sure.  While  others 
run,  he  walks,  and  thus  falls  less  frequently.  The  in- 
tegrity of  character  proverbial  of  the  German  race  has 
descended  to  him. 

And  he  is  religious,  too.  He  has  in  his  house,  if  no 
other  books,  the  Bible,  hymn-book,  catechism,  Psalter, 
and  Arndt's  "True  Christianity."  His  children  are  in 
most  cases  sent  for  months  to  catechetical  instruction  by 
the  pastor,  and  then  received  into  full  membership  in 
the  church  by  confirmation.  Seldom  indeed  Avill  you 
find  that  he  is  not  a  member  of  some  Christian  society  ; 
more  infrequently  still  that  he  is  an  open  unbeliever. 
He  is  in  his  place  in  church  very  regularly.  He  may 
be  somewhat  formal  and  perfunctory  in  the  discharge  of 
his  religious  duties,  and  his  liberality  in  the  support  and 
spread  of  the  Gospel  has  not  thus  far  become  proverbial ; 
nevertheless  with  scrupulous  conscientiousness  he  pays 
his  pastor  a  fee  whenever  a  member  of  his  household  is 
baptized,  confirmed  or  buried.  His  religion  is  neither 
ostentatious  nor  aggressive.  He  loves  and  will  have 
religious  freedom  for  himself,  for  to  escape  religious 
persecution  many  of  his  ancestors  crossed  the  wide  sea 
and  braved  the  dangers  of  a  wilderness ;  but  neither  will 
he  interfere  Avith  that  of  others. 

Finally,  the  Pennsylvania  Dutchman  in  his  peculiar 
way  is  kind  and  hospitable.  The  manner  of  his  kind- 
ness and  hospitality  is  hearty  yet  undemonstrative.  No 
trouble  is  too  great  for  him,  no  hour  too  unseasonable, 


OR,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  19 

no  time  too  precious,  where  the  sick  and  the  needy  are 
concerned.  In  his  dwelling  yon  may  often  see  the 
"  'Rumlafer's  Bett "  —  the  tramp's  bed,  —  specially  set 
apart  for  needy  wa^-farers  who  may  apply  for  a  night's 
lodging.  None  are  more  willing  than  he  to  lend  or  to 
help  a  neighbor. 

'  If  you  happen  to  be  an  Englishman  or  a  Yankee  and 
are  miable  to  speak  his  language  or  to  understand  him 
when  he  speaks  it,  he  mil  look  at  you  very  suspiciously, 
and  at  first  probably  show  you  but  scant  courtesy ;  but 
if  you  can  converse  with  him  a  little  in  his  tongue, 
■will  fall  in  with  his  ways,  and  by  your  general 
appearance  and  manner  convince  him  that  you  are  an 
honest  individual,  he  will  give  you  hearty  welcome 
to  his  home  —  always  provided  you  are  not  a  book- 
agent  ! 

In  his  house  you  will  three  times  a  day  sit  down  at  a 
table  covered  with  such  a  profusion  of  food  as  would 
have  delighted  the  heart  of  Athelstane  of  Coningsburgh, 
and  will  almost  startle  you.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
meal  your  host  will  probably  simply  say :  "  Now  help 
yourself."  This  he  will  mean  literally,  for  usually  at  his 
table  all  —  children  and  servants,  host  and  guest  —  help 
themselves,  asking  only  for  such  dishes  as  happen  to  be 
out  of  immediate  reach  when  desired.  If.  therefore,  vou 
Avait,  expecting  to  be  helped,  you  will  be  reminded  that 
you  are  at  a  Pennsylvania  Dutch  table  and  must  largely 
serve  yourself ;  and  if  you  are  still  bashful,  you  will 
likely  leave  the  bountiful  board  somewhat  hungry.     The 


20    •  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR  ;  ' 

better  you  "help  yourself,"  the  better  your  host  will 
like  you. 

This  hard-handed,  stolid  race  has  furnished  some  emi- 
nent men.  It  gave  Pennsylvania  at  least  six  of  her 
Governors.  It  contributed  the  Muhlenbergs,  the  Heis- 
ters,  the  Clymers,  to  politics ;  Rittenhouse,  Haldeman, 
Gross,  to  science ;  Harbaugh,  Krauth,  Schaeffer,  to 
theology.  It  has  borne  an  important  part  in  the  settle- 
ment of  the  great  West,  and  the  impress  it  has  made  on 
the  Nation  at  large  has  been  good. 

When,  however,  the  war  of  secession  broke  out,  the 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  were  much  divided  in  their  atti- 
tude toward  the  national  government.  The  majority  of 
them  could  not  understand  the  purpose  of  the  rebellion, 
and  utterly  failed  to  apprehend  the  foundation  princi- 
ples on  which  the  conflict  was  waged  on  the  part  of  the 
North  and  the  motives  actuating  Lincoln  and  his  com- 
patriots. Mistaught  by  some  of  their  political  leaders 
and  clergy,  they  had  the  most  absurd  notions  about 
these  things.  They  saw  in  the  war  a  cunning  scheme, 
whereby  certain  classes  North  and  South  sought  to 
enrich  themselves  by  the  blood  and  treasure  of  others. 
They  remembered,  moreover,  the  tales  of  their  fore- 
fathers of  war's  devastation  and  horror  in  the  old 
country.  Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  in  many  ways  they 
bitterly  opposed  the  government  m  its  eiiorts  to  subdue 
the  rebellion. 

But,  be  it  said,  a  large  minority  —  (among  whom, 
though,  were  numbers,  as  for  example,  the  Mennonites 


OE,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  21 

and  the  Dunkers,  who  could  not  take  up  arms  in  defence 
of  the  Nation  on  account  of  religious  scruples)  —  had 
clearer  views  of  the  principles  involved  in  the  war, 
and  of  the  duty  of  a  faithful  citizen  to  his  government 
in  the  great  crisis.  In  many  cases  they  detested  slavery 
as  the  source  of  niunerous  ills,  not  only  to  the  slave,  but 
to  the  master  and  to  the  entire  people. 

From  this  portion  of  the  Pennsylvania  Germans,  the 
calls  of  the  President  for  troops  received  generous 
response.  One  of  the  first  companies  —  it  is  claimed, 
indeed,  the  very  first  *  —  to  answer  his  call  of  April 
15th,  1861,  for  75,000  troops,  was  largely  Pennsylvania 
German.  Voluntarily  and  eagerly,  animated  by  the 
highest  patriotism,  there  went  forth  from  among  these 
people,  thousands  of  brave  men  and  youth  to  do  battle 
for  their  country.  They  did  not  shrink  frcftn  the  places 
of  danger ;  they  were  in  the  front  ranks ;  they  did 
nobly,  none  more  so.  They  died  on  the  field  and  in  the 
hospital,  and  many  bear  on  their  persons  the  scars  of 
honorable  warfare. 

In  consequence  of  the  division  of  sentiment  spoken  of, 
bitter  feuds  and  animosities  were  engendered,  often 
resulting  in  the  breaking  up  of  families  and  the  friend- 
ships of  a  life-time,  and  not  infrequently  culminating  in 
the  destruction  of  property,  and  even  in  the  shedding  of 
human  blood.  There  were  conspiracies,  plots  and 
counterplots,  turmoil   and  hurrying  to  and    fro  —  hard 

*  The  Ringgold  light  artillery  of  Reading,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  which  left  that  city 
for  the  South,  AprU  16th,  the  day  after  the  call  was  issued. 


22  ENEMIES    IX    THE    EEAE. 

to  understand  of  a  people  so  phlegmatic,  unless  we 
remember  that  those  of  such  temperament  when  once 
fully  aroused  are  the  most  active,  and  do  with  their 
might  what  they  undertake. 

Let  us  now  return  to  the  Ruthvons  and  resume  the 
thread  of  our  story. 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE    KUTHVON    FAMILY. 


Frederick  Ruthvon  retired  to  rest  after  the  conversa- 
tion with  his  son  with  conflicting  emotions.  On  the  one 
hand  was  his  affection,  on  the  other  what  he  regarded 
as  his  sense  of  duty.  The  next  morning  he  repeated  to 
his  wife  what  had  occurred. 

"  I  fear  Charlie  is  going  square  against  everything 
the  Ruthvons  always  believed  and  acted  on,"  he  said  in 
conclusion.  "  Next,  Maria,  he'll  be  a  long-faced  Congre- 
gationalist  most  likely,  and  before  long  I  think  he  '11 
exhort  me  to  farm  as  they  do  up  in  Connecticut,  where 
they  live  on  baked  beans,  maple  sugar  and  molasses 
bread." 

"  Be  patient,"  she  gently  replied ;  '^  Charlie  is  a  good 
boy,  and  his  love  for  us  will  keep  him  from  going  very 
far  ^vrong.  Don't  be  angry  with  him,  but  wait  and 
see. 

"  It  was  desperately  hard  to  hear  him  talk  the  way 
he  did,  and  I  now  see  that  Doctor  Heifer  understood 
him  better  than  I  did,  from  the  way  he  teased  him 
about  Yankee  Chetwynde's  daughter. —  If  Charlie  per- 
sists," he  continued,  speaking  mth  sudden  energy,  ''  I 
will  disinherit  him." 

"Fred,  Fred,   don't  talk  like  that,"   exclaimed  Mrs. 


24  ENEMIES    IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

Ruthvon ;  "after  all  the  boy  said  nothing  very  bad  — 
only  a  word  for  the  slave." 

Mr.  Ruthvon  readily  saw  that  if  he  persisted,  he 
would  quickly  raise  up  a  second  advocate  for  abolition 
sentiments  in  his  household ;  so  he  wisely  said  nothing 
more,  and  left  the  house. 

That  Frederick  Ruthvon  was  proud  of  his  name  and 
ancestry  need  not  be  said,  and  in  some  respects  his  pride 
was  certainly  just.  Johannes  Ruthvon,  his  great-grand- 
father, had  left  his  home  in  the  Palatinate  in  Germany 
early  in  the  previous  century,  on  account  of  religious 
persecution,  and  crossed  the  ocean  to  seek  freedom 
of  worship,  and  a  new  home  for  himself  and  his  family 
in  the  forests  of  Pennsylania.  Arriving  at  Philadelphia, 
he  made  his  way  toward  the  north,  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  Great  Britian  under  the  laws  of  the  colony, 
and  purchased  for  a  nominal  price,  a  large  tract  of  land 
a  short  distance  south  of  where  Haltfest  now  stands, 
and  about  a  mile  north  of  the  foot  of  the  South  Moun- 
tain. On  this  tract  he  settled,  many  other  Germans 
settling  all  around  him  about  the  same  time.  With  his 
older  sons  he  attacked  the  primitive  forest  and  soon 
cleared  ground  enough  to  raise  bread  for  the  family. 
After  a  life  of  excessive  labor,  Johannes  Ruthvon  died, 
leaving  the  inheritance  to  his  sons.  Toiling  day  and 
night,  these  continued  to  improve  the  tract,  and  in  a 
comparatively  short  period  what  had  been  a  wild  waste 
was  converted  into  fields  of  waving  wheat  and  corn. 

In    the    course  of    years  the    original    purchase    was 


OR,  A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  25 

divided  into  three  parts,  one  considerably  larger  than 
either  of  the  others.  This  part  fell  to  the  lot  of  Fred- 
erick Ruthvon,  and  he  was  reputed  one  of  the  wealthiest 
men  in  Copton  township. 

Scarcely  less  proud  than  of  his  name  and  ancestry 
was  Mr.  Ruthvon  of  the  old  family  mansion.  It  stood 
on  his  portion  of  the  original  estate  and  was  occupied 
by  him.  True,  his  barn  was  of  immense  size,  with  walls 
of  pure,  blue  limestone ;  but  he  had  erected  that, 
whereas  the  -house  had  been  been  built  by  his  grand- 
father. In  that  early  period  it  was  considered  large 
and  grand.  It  was  two  stories  high,  with  an  exceedmg 
steep  roof.  Its  walls  were  of  a  red  sandstone  found  on 
the  South  Mountain.  On  a  great  stone  just  above  the 
principal  entrance  was  cut  in  large  letters  the  legend 

IN  CHRISTI  NOMINE 

and  underneath  this  the  date  of  erection : 

]\iDCCXCin. 

together  with  the  name  of  the  builder  and  proprietor. 

On  the  first  floor  was  a  large  hall  from  which  a  flight 
of  stairs  led  into  the  second  story.  To  the  left  of  the 
hall  was  the  parlor,  and  on  the  right  a  sitting-room,  two 
small  schlof-kaemmer  or  sleeping-chambers,  and,  in  the 
rear  of  these,  the  great  old-fashioned  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  kitchen,  which,  as  usual,  served  also  as  the 
dining-room.     One  kammer  was  especially  set  apart  for 


26  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR  ; 

the  use  of  Mr.  Ruth  von 's  mother,  who  at  a  great 
age  lived  with  her  son  and  was  tenderly  cared  for  by 
him.  In  the  parlor  which  was  seldom  used  save  on 
''state  occasions,"  few  in  number,  were  a  rag-carpet, 
half  a  dozen  common  chairs,  a  few  other  articles  of 
furniture  and  on  the  walls  two  or  three  cheap  colored 
prints  in  stained  pine  frames.  The  sitting-room  con- 
tained, among  other  things,  the  inevitable  high  Dutch 
clock, —  brought  in  this  instance  fi-om  the  fatherland  by 
Johannes  Ruthvon, —  an  antiquated  piano,  *  and  a  book- 
case containing,  besides  the  usual  religious  books  before 
mentioned,  a  goodly  number  of  schoolbooks,  biographies 
and  histories. 

On  the  entire  premises  were  evidences  of  care  and 
economy.  The  philosophy  contained  in  the  divme  com- 
mand — "  Gather  up  the  fragments  that  remain,  that 
nothing  be  lost  "  — was  evidently  practiced  here.  Not  a 
bread-crust,  an  apple,  a  potato,  a  pumpkin,  was  permit- 
ted to  go  to  waste,  not  a  chip  of  wood  was  allov\^ed  to 
rot.  Every  tool  and  utensil  had  its  place,  and  there 
when  not  in  use  it  was  found. 

From  what  we  have  seen  of  him,  it  can  be  readily 
imagined  that  Frederick  Ruthvon  was  a  man  of  strong- 
dislikes  ;  let  it  be  said  that  his  likes  were  still  stronger 
and  that  at  the  bottom  of  liis  inherited  conservatism  lay 
much  good  sense.  In  all  the  region  there  was  not  a 
kinder  or  more  truthful  man  than  he,  or  one  more  gen- 
erally respected.  In  early  life  he  had  married,  for  pure 
love,  a  neighbor's  daughter.       Maria   Yolz  was  one  of 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  27 

the  excellent  of  the  earth.  She  proved  a  true  help- 
meet and  smoothed  down  the  rougher  edges  in  her 
husband's  character.  She  had  a  kind  word  for  every- 
one in  distress,  and  many  a  night  "  the  tramp's  bed " 
contamed  an  occupant.  She  did  not  merely  say  "  De- 
part in  peace,  be  ye  warmed  and  filled,"  but  gave  what 
was  needful  for  the  body.  She  was  esteemed  by  all  her 
neighbors,  and  was  looked  up  to  for  wisdom.  Her  own 
inheritance,  by  no  means  inconsiderable,  she  added  to 
that  of  her  spouse.  They  lived  happily  together, 
though  thus  far  their  life  had  been  one  of  severe  toil. 
A  trip  to  Reading  durmg  fair-week,  a  day  at  Schnarraf- 
felsschteddel  to  view  the  battalion-drill  and  an  annual 
journey  to  Kutztown  to  visit  relatives  for  a  few  days, 
were  the  principal  relaxations  they  allowed  themselves. 

This  worthy  couple  had  three  children.  Their  first- 
born died  in  infancy.  Two  years  later  Charles  was 
born,  and  the  third  child,  now  twelve  years  of  age,  was 
added  to  the  family  when  the  former  was  eight  years 
old.  Between  parents  and  children  a  deep  affection 
existed,  though  on  the  father's  part  it  manifested  itself 
very  quietly. 

Catharine  was  the  darling  of  the  household.  Golden 
haired,  with  blue  eyes,  chubby  cheeks,  a  prattlmg 
tongue  —  to  her  parents  she  was  as  the  apple  of  their 
eyes  and  to  the  brother  as  his  own  life.  Petted,  she 
was  not  spoiled.  She  could  wash  dishes  and  had  made 
her  first  attempt  at  milking  a  cow. 

As  a  boy  Charles  had  been  of  a  timid,  retiring  dis- 


28  ENEMIES   IN   THE  BEAB ; 

position.  A  severe  attack  of  scarlet  fever  when  quite 
young  left  Mni  much  prostrated,  and  for  several  years 
his  condition  gave  his  parents  much  anxiety ;  but  as  he 
grew  older  his  system  rallied,  he  became  strong  and 
hardy  and  less  timid  and  shy.  When  he  attained  man- 
hood he  was  physically  well-favored  and  somewhat 
above  medium  height,  while  in  manner  modest  yet 
frank,  graceful  and  winning.  His  grey  eyes  sparkled 
with  intelligence,  and  when  he  came  home  from  college 
in  vacation  the  neighbors  said  he  was  the  handsomest 
young  man  in  the  vicinity,  and  envious  tongues  were 
busy. 

"He  is  proud,"  said  Hans  Prantman  ;  "Fred  Ruth- 
von  is  making  an  ink-licker*  of  his  boy  instead  of  bring- 
ing him  up  to  the  plow  as  I'm  my  Pete.  He  might 
spend  his  monej^  much  better  than  in  sending  him  away 
to  boarding-school.  It  only  makes  him  stuck  up  and 
feel  above  us,  and  fit  for  nothing  but  acting  the  gentle- 
man, by  my  sex." 

Charles  disarmed  the  prejudice  of  a  good  many  how- 
ever by  being  the  same  genial,  obliging  young  man  he 
had  always  been.  He  greeted  the  people  in  the  old, 
hearty  way,  and  in  conversation  without  any  show  of 
obtruding  his  superior  knowledge  would  generally  be  so 
entertaining  as  to  win  to  him  any  who  might  dislike 
him  and  compel  them  to  admit  to  themselves  that  going 
to  college  had  not   made  him  proud.      And  what  was 

•A  person  who  makes  his  living  in  some  other  way  than  by  manual  labor,— 
more  particularly  a  lawyer,  an  agent  of  any  kind,  or  a  clerk. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  29 

perhaps  more  convincing  than  anything  else,  he  took 
his  usual  place  in  the  field  during  the  summer  vacation 
—  swung  the  cradle,  pitched  hay  and  held  the  plow, — 
not  disdaining  even  to  wrestle,  or  to  run  a  foot-race 
with  such  of  the  young  men  as  might  be  so  inclined. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE    SHADOW    OF    WAR. 


Through  the  few  remaining  weeks  of  the  long  vaca- 
tion nothing  was  said  about  politics  in  the  Ruthvon 
home.  Mrs.  Ruthvon  like  a  wise  ^vife  and  loving  moth- 
er, was  careful  not  to  say  anything  that  might  bring  on 
argument  between  her  husband  and  her  boy.  But  Mr. 
Ruthvon  chafed  under  the  restraint,  for  in  the  last 
presidential  contest  one  of  his  great  delights  had  been 
to  talk  on  political  matters  with  his  intelligent  son,  of 
whom  he  was  very  proud.  Charles  would  be  the  inher- 
itor of  the  family  name  and  of  the  old  estate. 

•■'  He  mil  take  my  place  in  the  church  and  in  town- 
ship affairs,  and  will  carry  on  the  farm  just  as  I  did," 
said  he  to  his  wife  one  day  ;  "-and, —  who  knows,  Maria? 
—  he  may  get  into  the  Assembly  sometime,  or  even 
into  Congress." 

But  the  conversation  of  that  August  evening  had 
revealed  that  which  seemed  to  strike  a  deadly  blow  at 
all  the  fond  hopes  so  long  cherished.  Nevertheless,  he 
treated  Charles  kindly,  the  days  passed  quickly  away 
and  the  student  returned  to  college.  When  the  Christ- 
mas vacation  came  the  political  battle  was  ovet,  and  in 
spite  of  the  fact  that  Charles'  visits  at  Mr.  Chetwynde's 
house  were  rather  more  frequent  than  usual,  the  family 


OK,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED,  31 

spent   the   gladdest   season  of   all  the  year  very  pleas- 
antly. 

Meanwhile  the  ominous  rumbling  of  the  chariots  of 
war  was  heard  afar  off.  In  the  South,  discussion  had 
given  way  already  to  action  portending  the  awful  strug- 
gle. South  Carolina  seceded  from  the  Union  December 
20th,  1860,  and  was  presently  followed  by  six  other 
Southern  states ;  and  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  in- 
augurated President  of  the  United  States,  March  4th, 
1861,  a  hostile  government  with  Jeff  Davis  at  its  head 
sat  at  Montgomery,  Alabama.  April  12th,  Fort  Sum- 
ter was  fired  upon.  This  was  quickly  succeeded  by  its 
surrender  and  evacuation  and  by  the  President's  call  for 
75,000  volimteers  for  three  months.  The  shadow  of 
war  was  over  the  land. 

The  roar  of  the  cannon  at  Sumter  was  heard  all  over 
the  North,  and  even  the  most  sluggish  and  indifferent 
were  aroused  thereby.  In  the  most  retired  hamlets  and 
remotest  farmhouses,  the  one  absorbing  topic  was  the 
fall  of  Sumter  and  the  consequences  that  must  follow. 

Pennbrook  College  was  in  great  commotion  during 
those  April  days.  The  students  marched,  drilled,  made 
grandiloquent  speeches,  raised  a  beautiful  Union  flag 
over  the  principal  building,  and  mobbed  three  of  their 
number  who  had  dared  lift  up  their  voices  for  secession. 
When  the  news  came  that  several  regiments  of  volun- 
teers had  already  reached  Washington,  and  that  the 
Massachusetts  6th  had  been  attacked  m  Baltimore 
by    secession   sympathizers,    they    became    fairly    wild 


32  ENEIVIIES    IN   THE   REAR  ; 

with  excitement.  Some  of  them  started  for  their 
homes,  from  which  they  had  just  returned  after  the 
Easter  vacation,  for  the  purpose  of  enhsting  under  the 
call  for  troops.  Among  these  was  Charles  Ruthvon, 
who  despite  his  Pennsylvania  Dutch  blood,  Avas  deeply 
stirred.  His  father  was  surprised  to  see  him,  and 
astonished  when  the  object  of  his  return  from  school 
was  made  known. 

Grandmother  Ruthvon  was  present.  She  was  in  her 
dotage  and  loved  to  indulge  in  reminiscence.  Moreover, 
she  had  numerous  omens,  signs  and  dreams,  in  all  of 
which  she  had  perfect  faith. 

Many  of  the  neighbors  believed  her  to  possess  "  the 
gift  of  heahng,"  and  frequently  children  were  brought 
to  "  Aunty "  Ruthvon  to  be  "  touched."  She  was 
treated  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  deference  by  the 
entire  household.  No  matter  how  long  her  stories  were 
or  how  untimely  her  interruption  of  the  discourse,  she 
was  always  allowed  to  proceed  to  the  end  of  her  remarks 
before  anyone  spoke,  and  at  least  the  semblance  of 
attention  was  given  her. 

When  her  grandson,  to  whom  she  was  very  strongly 
attached,  made  known  his  desire  to  enlist,  she  lifted  up 
her  hands  in  horror. 

"I  knew  something  bad  was  going  to  happen,"  she 
exclaimed ;  "  every  day  last  week  it  seemed  to  me  to  be 
Saturday,  and  when  Saturday  came  it  didn't  seem  like 
Saturday  at  all,  but  like  Smiday ;  and  every  time 
that  is  so  something  bad  is  surely  going  to  happen,  and 


OE,     A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE   SQUARED.  33 

here  it  is  again.  Now  it  is  war,  and  Charlie  will  go. 
Oh,  thou  beloved  ground,  thou  beloved  ground !  " 

Charles  watched  his  father's  countenance  while  his 
grandmother  was  speaking,  and  he  saw  tokens  of  anger 
there  ;  but  the  old  lady's  interruption  gave  Mr.  Ruthvon 
time  to  collect  his  thoughts  and  to  put  a  bridle  on  his 
tongue. 

'^  I  told  Doctor  Heifer  last  summer  what  would 
happen  if  Abe  Lincoln  was  elected,"  said  he  after  his 
mother  had  ended.  "  The  South  feels  that  it  has  no 
longer  any  security  in  the  Union  for  its  rights.  Still,  it 
isn't  yet  in  dead  earnest  about  secession ;  it  only  wishes 
to  show  what  it  can  and  will  do  if  its  rights  are  not 
respected.  It  is  like  a  nest  of  bumble-bees  that  has  been 
disturbed,  and  if  regiment  after  regiment  of  abolition 
soldiers  is  sent  down  there  singing  that  song  about  that 
old  John  Brown's  abominable  body  lying  mouldering  in 
the  grave,  then,  by  Schinnerhannes,  there'll  be  war 
in  earnest  sure  !  Therefore  every  man  who  enlists  only 
helps  to  make  things  worse,  and,  Charlie,  I'm  not 
willing  that  you  should  be  one  of  these.  The  Ruthvons 
always  had  a  just  idea  of  property  rights,  and  no  soldier 
who  goes  to  free  niggers  has." 

He  went  on  more  earnestly  :  —  "  We  haven't  talked 
politics  since  last  August ;  I  wanted  to  give  you  time  to 
set  yourself  right,  but  I  see  you  haven't,  and  I  might  as 
well  talk  plain  now  so  that  we  may  understand  each 
other.  Your  notions  about  slavery  have  no  foundation 
at  all,  and  were  put  into  your  head  by  that  Yankee  of  a 


34  ENEMIES   EST   THE   BEAR  ; 

Chetwynde,  who  never  had  any  business  to  settle 
here  among  honest  Pennsylvania  German  people  and 
introduce  notions  as  hateful  to  us  as  they  were  to  our 
fathers.  And  Charlie,"  he  concluded  with  great  em- 
phasis and  warmth,  "  I  tell  you  once  for  all,  I  shall 
never  give  my  consent  to  your  going  into  this  war. 
You  will  be  of  age  July  21st  next :  if  you  enlist  before 
that  time,  I'll  strike  you  out  of  my  will,  for  you'll 
be  unworthy  to  succeed  to  the  old  estate.  Your  place 
will  then  be  either  among  the  niggers  or  the  Yankees." 

Never  before  had  IVIr.  Ruth  von  spoken  in  this  tone  to 
his  son,  and  the  latter  was  touched  to  the  quick, 
especially  by  those  portions  of  his  father's  remarks 
relating  to  Jabez  Chetwynde's  supposed  influence  over 
him,  a  point  on  which  he  had  somehow  recently  become 
very  sensitive.  He  was  tempted  to  make  an  unfilial, 
defiant  reply,  but  his  affection  for  his  father  and  his 
habitual  deference  to  his  authority,  as  well  as  his 
mother's  silent  weeping,  stood  him  in  good  stead. 

"Father,"  said  he  calmly  but  with*  eyes  filled  with 
tears,  "  I  so  much  wished  to  enlist  and  go  with  the 
fellows,  but  I  never  thought  of  doing  so  before  I  was 
my  own  master,  without  getting  your  consent  and 
mother's.  It  will  be  hard  to  go  back  to  college  now, 
and  if  you  agree,  I  will  not  at  present.  But  I  must  tell 
you  honestly  that  if  the  war  goes  on  and  I  continue 
to  hold  my  present  views  of  secession,"  — 

"  And  slavery,"  interrupted  his  father. 

Charles  reddened,  but  finished  without  heeding  the 


OR,     A   GOLDEN    CERCLE    SQUARED.  35 

interruption  — "  I  shall  probably  enlist  as  soon  as  I  come 
of  age." 

Grandmother  Riithvon  got  up  and  hobbled  out  of  the 
room  to  her  kammer  ejaculating :  "  Now  there'll  be 
war,  and  Charles  is  going  I      Oh,  dear  land,  dear  land." 

Mr.  Ruthvon  was  affected  by  his  son's  ready  sub- 
mission to  his  authority,  and  could  not  but  admire 
the  young  man's  frankness. 

"  Well,"  said  he  in  a  calmer  tone  after  his  mother 
had  disappeared,  "  I'm  glad  that  in  your  misguided 
eagerness  to  fight  the  South  and  help  rob  people  of 
their  lawful  property,  you  have  nevertheless  not  entirely 
forgotten  your  duty  to  your  parents." 

"  And,  Fred,  Charlie  never  will,"  said  '  his  wife 
gently. 

Charles  gave  his  mother  a  grateful  look. 

•'  I  know  it  Maria,  if  he's  just  let  alone,"  answered 
Mr.  Ruthvon. 

"  If  I  ceased  to  respect  you,  father,"  said  Charles,  "  I 
should  of  course  cease  to  respect  myself,  but  the  same 
thing  wovdd  surely  follow  were  I  to  act  otherwise  than 
in  accordance  with  my  convictions  of  duty.  I  wish 
you  could  know  how  it  pains  me  to  differ  with  you  even 
in  thought." 

"  Our  words  and  acts  should  correspond  mth  our 
convictions,"  responded  his  father  -with  dignity,  "  and 
all  the  more  sorry  am  I  that  your  ideas  about  our 
national  troubles  are  so  erroneous.  But,  my  boy,  we 
won't  quarrel.     Promise   me   that    you   will  not  enlist 


36  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR. 

before  you  are  of  age,  and  that  between  now  and  that 
day  you  will  think  this  whole  matter  over  once  more 
carefully,  unbiased  by  the  opinions  of  your  college 
professors  or  that  Yankee  over  there,  but  according  to 
home-made,  common  sense,  Pennsylvania  Dutch  prin- 
ciples." 

"  The  first  I  have  already  as  good  as  promised, 
and  I  promise  the  second  also,"  answered  Charles. 

"  Very  well ;  that  leaves  things  plain  between  us 
until  then,"  said  Mr.  Ruth  von.  "  I  hope  you  will  see 
your  error  and  be  kept  from  doing  what  would  bring 
reproach  upon  our  name,  and  your  father  and  mother 
in  sorrow  to  the  grave.      Good  night." 

Charles  had  arrived  at  home  in  the  evening,  and  it 
was  now  quite  late.  They  all  retired  to  rest,  the 
parents  sorrowfully  reflecting  on  what  the  near  future 
might  bring  them.  The  mother  dreamed  that  her 
boy  had  been  brought  home  from  the  field  of  battle 
wounded  and  dying,  and  that  she  and  his  father  wept 
over  him. 

The  young  man  sat  in  his  arm-chair  in  his  room  until 
near  morning.  He  was  deeply  disappointed  by  his  father's 
decision,  yet  was  very  thoughtful  too.  He  went  to  bed 
at  last,  to  dream  that  the  fellows  laughed  at  him, 
and  taunted  him  with  cowardice  as  they  proudly 
marched  away  in  answer  to  their  country's  call. 


CHAPTER  V. 

A   YANKEE   IN   A    STRANGE   LAND. 

"  Mr.  Chetwynde,  if  it's  a  fair  question,  how  did  you 
ever  happen  to  get  all  the  way  from  Coilnecticut  into 
this  Dutch  neighborhood  and  settle  down  here  ?  " 

The  questioner  was  Doctor  HeKer,  one  morning  in 
April,  just  before  the  attack  on  Sumter.  He  and  Jabez 
Chetwynde  had  become  very  good  friends  since  the 
former's  coming  to  Haltfest,  owing  no  doubt  in  part  to 
the  fact  that  the  doctor  spoke  English  well,  and  in  part 
to  the  further  fact  that  their  political  views  were  practi- 
cally identical.  This  morning  Jabez  was  plowing  corn- 
stubble,  and  when  HeKer  drove  by,  the  farmer  hailed 
him,  and  they  were  soon  engaged  in  discvissing  the  state 
of  the  countiy.  After  an  hour  thus  spent  Mr.  Chet- 
wynde thanked  his  companion  for  stopping  and  re- 
marked that  he  so  seldom  had  an  opportunity  to  talk 
pohtics  with  his  neighbors  on  account  of  their  language, 
that  when  he  did  get  a  chance  he  enjoyed  and  made  the 
most  of  it.  It  was  this  remark  that  led  the  doctor  to 
ask  the  questioi>  with  which  the  chapter  begins. 

"  Well,"  said  Chetwynde  smiling  and  getting  on  the 
fence  again,  "  I  reckon  I  came  here  for  about  the  same 
reason  that  brought  you  —  I  thought  I  could  make  some 
money.     It   is   all  simple    enough   when   you  come  to 


38  ENEIVIIES   IN   THE   BEAR  ;   . 

understand  it,  doctor.  Although  I  was  originally  a 
fanner,  I  engaged  a  number  of  years  in  mining  iron-ore 
in  the  vicinity  of  Kent  up  in  old  Connecticut.  It's  just 
nine  years  since  I  heard  of  rich  deposits  of  ore  in  this 
town.  I  at  once  came  to  inspect  them,  and  finding 
reports  true,  leased  lands,  moved  my  family  and  began 
operations.  After  a  couple  of  years  a  difficulty  arose 
about  the  ownership  of  the  land  which  involved  my 
leases  and  compelled  me  to  suspend  work  until  the 
trouble  could  be  adjusted  by  the  courts,  and  it  isn  't 
settled  yet.  Meanwhile  I  found  this  place  for  sale  —  it 's 
a  part  of  the  old  lluthvon  tract  and  belonged  to  Fred 
Ruthvon's  brother  who  went  to  Iowa  —  and  bought  it. —  I 
like  farming,  but  at  first  our  surroundings  were  not  pleas- 
ant. However,  we  Yankees  penetrate  into  every  part 
of  the  country  and  soon  adapt  ourselves  to  the  surround- 
ings, if  the  surroundings  refuse  to  adapt  themselves  to 
us.  Nearly  everyone  spoke  a  language  of  which  we 
knew  nothing,  and  I  declare  thougli  we've  lived  here  so 
long,  I  can't  talk  it  yet,  though  I  can  understand  some 
of  it,  and  the  boys  can  speak  it  pretty  well  and  Blanche 
a  little. — One  of  our  greatest  trials  is  that  we  have 
scarcely  any  church  privileges,  all  services  being  con- 
ducted in  German.  We  are  Congregationalists  and  1 
believe  there  is  no  church  of  our  dendmination  nearer 
than  Philadelphia.  Being  from  New  England,  many  at 
first  looked  upon  us  with  suspicion  and  we  felt  a  good 
deal  like  the  cat  in  the  strange  garret,  but  they  are 
gradually  getting  over  that,  since  they  find  that  we  have 


OR,     A   GOLDEiST   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  39 

neither  hoofs  nor  horns  and  try  tQ  do  what  is  right.  Of 
course  some  don't  like  us  yet  and  never  will,  I  reckon, 
We  don't  observe  Ascension-day  nor  Good  Friday,  and 
make  little  of  Christmas.  The  Prantmans  are  horrified 
because  we  work  on  Good  Friday  and  because  the 
women  folks  sew  on  Ascension-day !  —  And  then,  to  be 
sure,  Yankee  Avomen  don't  do  any  milking  or  churning 
or  pig-slopping,  and  that  has  scandalized  some  of  the 
people  and  made  us  unpopular,  to  say  nothing  of  my 
politics,  you  know.  Several  hired  men  left  me  because 
I  insisted  on  their  doing  the  milking  and  every  one  who 
agreed  to  do  it  had  to  learn  how  of  me.  It's  too  funny 
sometimes.  Our  neighbors  never  heard  of  a  Congrega- 
tionalist  society,  and  at  first  some  said  our  religion  was  a 
sort  of  heathen  religion  and  that  it  forbade  the  women 
to  milk  and  to  do  that  kind  of  work. —  But,  doctor,  I'm 
making  a  little  money,  and  after  all  we're  pretty  happy 
here." 

"  Ho  !  "  exclaimed  Heifer,  laughing  heartily  when  the 
Yankee  had  finished  his  account,  '^  some  of  your  neigh- 
bors like  you  all  pretty  well  too,  I  may  say.  I  must  go. 
Old  Mrs.  Shiffler  is  very  low.  Good  morning,  Mr. 
Chetwynde." 

Jabez  Chetwynde  was  a  man  of  fifty  years,  a  typical 
Yankee  in  physique,  shrewdness,  intelligence,  patriotism 
and  industry.  He  was  long  and  lean,  knew  a  dollar 
when  he  saw  it  and  usually  got  it ;  he  was  painstaking 
in  his  farming,  and  his  store  of  knowledge  of  political, 
religious  and  social  topics  corresponded  with  his  well- 


40  ENEMIES   EST  THE   REAR  ; 

chosen  little  library,  aixl  with  the  numerous  papers  and 
magazines  that  came  to  his  house  regularly.  His  wife 
was  a  fitting  helpmeet,  proud  of  her  Mayflower 
ancestry. 

Of  children  this  couple  had  three.  Frank  was  now 
fourteen  years  of  age ;  Clinton,  just  twenty ;  and 
Blanche,  eighteen.  Clinton  was  a  bright  lad,  inheriting 
the  best  traits  of  his  New  England  ancestry.  He  was 
very  intelligent  concerning  current  political  events  and 
an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  More 
than  once  this  latter  fact  had  brought  him  into  serious 
conflict  with  lads  of  opposite  political  views.  His  sister 
often  chid  him  and  he  would  respond  in  a  brother's 
usual  way  —  a  kiss,  and  the  remark  that  she  was  a  girl 
and  did  not  know  about  these  things. 

Blanche  was  of  medium  height,  well  formed,  with 
fair  complexion,  brown  eyes  and  dark  hair.  During  the 
last  few  years  she  had  been  away  at  school  in  her 
native  state.  When  at  home  she  mingled  but  little 
with  the  young  women  of  the  neighborhood.  Many  of 
them  did  not  like  her ;  they  called  her  proud,  and  her 
superior  accomplishments  made  them  envious.  But  the 
one  thing  which  more  than  any  other  rendered  her  un- 
popular with  a  certain  class  was  that  she  was  afraid  of 
cows  and  never  had  milked  one  in  her  life ! 

"  There  comes  that  Yankee  girl,"  snarled  Margaret 
Prantman  to  Sallie  Vonneida,  Mr.  Ruthvon's  hired  girl, 
one  Sunday  in  church  before  service  began ;  "  I  just 
wonder  she  isn't  too  proud  to  come  to  our  Dutch  church. 


OR,  A  GOLDEN"  CIRCLE  SQUARED.        41 

and  she  told  me  the  other  day  she  hadn't  learned  to 
milk  a  cow  yet,  and  her  eighteen  years  old.  I  wonder 
whether  they  have  to  feed  her  with  a  spoon  like  a  baby? 
What  does  the  women  do  anyhow  up  there  in  'Neticut 
where  she  comes  from  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Ruthvon  says  she's  a  real  nice  housekeeper," 
responded  Sallie,  who  was  inclined  to  be  conservative 
where  Margaret  was  radical,  and  vice  versa. 

"  A  nice  housekeeper  indeed,  when  the  men  must 
milk  the  cows  and  feed  the  pigs  after  working  hard  in 
the  fields  all  day.     Go  aAvay !  " 

"  They  are  awful  people,"  she  continued  when  Miss 
Vonneida  vouchsafed  no  reply  to  her  contemptuous 
remark;  "why,  the  old  man  plowed  last  Friday 
—  Good  Friday !  My  !  If  that  oats  ever  gets  into  his 
barn  before  some  one  dies  in  the  family,  the  barn  will 
surely  burn  down." 

"Don't  talk  so  loud,"  said  Sallie,  nudging  Miss 
Prantman. 

"Look  at  her,"  continued  the  latter,  but  in  a  lower 
tone ;  "  she  thinks  she's  handsome,  and  they  say  she 
puts  sugar  in  her  coffee  and  uses  two  or  three  different 
plates  at  dinner,  and  puts  a  cloth  on  her  lap.  It'll  be  a 
long  time  before  she  gets  a  beau  around  here,  I  think, 
by  my  sex." 

"Don't  you  be  too  sure,"  said  Sallie,  smiling  pleas- 
antly ;  "  they  say  C.  R.  is  going  there  in  earnest  now, 
since  Blanche  is  eighteen  and  is  allowed  to  have 
beaux." 


42  ENEMIES    IN    THE    KEAR  ; 

"  C.  R.  ? "  said  Margaret  sharply  and  rather  louder 
than  the  surroundings,  if  not  her  feelings,  warranted ; 
"  C.  R.  ?  You  mean  Charlie  Ruthvon.  I  don't  believe  he 
is  such  a  fool ;  I  believe  he  is  looking  in  another  direc- 
tion." 

''  In  yours  maybe  ?  "  rejoined  Sallie,  sarcastically,  for 
Miss  Prantman  was  anything  but  comely  and  sweet. 

It  was  well  that  the  entrance  of  the  minister  and  the 
organist  just  then  hushed  all  voices,  else  loud  whispers 
might  readily  have  grown  into  something  \inseemly. 
Margaret  hissed  "  You'll  see  "  into  Sallie's  ear  and  then 
leaned  back  in  the  j)ew  her  face  puckered  as  if  she  had 
eaten  green  persimmons. 

Blanche  Chetwynde  had  one  intimate  female  friend, 
however,  besides  her  mother — ^  Susie  Zweispringer, 
Squire  Zweispringer' s  daughter,  in  Haltfest.  Susie  was 
two  years  older  than  Blanche  and  like  the  latter  had 
been  for  some  time  at  a  boarding-school.  The  two  were 
very  congenial  and  visited  each  other  frequently. 

And  there  was  a  second  pei'son  who  came  often  to 
Mr.  C'hetwynde's  house.  Charles  Ruthvon  was  but 
twelve  years  old  when  the  Yankee  arrived  in  Copton 
township.  One  day  not  long  afterward  moved  by  curi- 
osity to  see  a  Yankee,  he  shyly  ventured  to  the  new- 
comer's house.  Mr.  Chetwynde  greeted  him  very 
cordially,  chatted  with  him  and  invited  him  to  come 
again.  This  invitation  the  lad  was  not  slow  to  accept, 
and  as  he  could  speak  English  —  though  with  a  strong 
Peujisylvania  Dutch  accent, —  and  was  of  an  inquiring 


OK,     A   GOLDEN   CERCLE   SQUARED.  43 

turn,  Jabez  took  a  great  fancy  to  him  and  liked  to  talk 
to  liim  about  New  England  and  other  topics  new  to 
Charles. 

By  and  by  Mr.  Ghetwynde  moved  on  the  farm  and 
became  near  neighbor  to  the  Ruthvons.  Charles  and 
Clinton  soon  were  bosom  friends,  and  the  Yankee  and 
his  family  found  in  young  Ruthvon  a  warm  advocate 
among  those  who  ignorantly  aspersed  them.  Naturally 
Charles  was  thrown  much  into  Blanche's  company.  As 
children  they  played  together  in  field  and  wood.  After 
awhile  both  went  away  to  school,  and  they  saw  less  of 
each  other.  But  vacation-time  came  around  regularly 
and  as  regularly  found  them  at  home.  It  is  not  hard  to 
believe  that  while  at  first  the  father  possessed  tlie 
greater  interest  for  the  lad,  the  daughter  soon  sup- 
planted him  completely.  When,  then,  the  Christmas 
holidays  of  1860  came  and  found  Charles  at  the  Chet- 
wynde  residence  he  could  indeed  still  talk  politics  with 
Mr.  Chetwynde,  but  presently  he  would  be  quietly  en- 
gaged in  conversation  Avith  Blanche  about  a  book  or 
some  kindred  topic. 

So  time  went  on,  and  soon  the  exciting  days  of  April, 
1861,  arrived.  On  the  day  following  the  interview  with 
his  father  narrated  in  the  previous  chapter,  Charles 
Ruthvon  found  his  way  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Chetwynde, 
Avhere  he  received  his  usual  hearty  welcome. 

''  Charlie,  what's  the  matter?  "  asked  Jabez  after  the 
customary  greetings  were  exchanged.  "•  You're  home 
unexpectedly,  aud  seem  as  downcast  as  if  your  dearest 


44  EFElVnES    IN    THE    REAR  ; 

friends  were  dead,  whereas  you  ought  to  be  as  mad  as  a 
hornet." 

"  I  do  feel  sad,  Mr.  Chetwynde,"  responded  Charles. 

"  Sad  !  "  exploded  the  Yankee.  "  Do  you  think  the 
Union  dead  because  an  irresistible  force  of  unhung 
rebels  has  taken  a  fort  with  only  a  handful  of  brave 
men  to  defend  it  ?  The  South  is  now  finding  out  that 
it  has  stirred  up  a  power  which  will  crush  it  in  three 
months.  I  wish  I  weren't  too  old  to  go.  I'd  go  just  as 
soon  as  I  could  get  ready.     If  Clint  here  —  " 

"  I'll  go  to-morrow,  father,  if  you'll  let  me,"  said 
Clinton  with  the  ardor  of  unthinking  youth.  "  I  wish 
I  could  have  been  with  the  Massachusetts  6th  at  Balti- 
more, or  gone  with  the  Ringgolds  of  Reading,"  he  ex- 
claimed enthusiastically. 

"  Mr.  Chetwynde,  that  is  just  the  point,"  said 
Charles ;  "I  am  neither  too  old  nor  too  young  to  go 
to  my  country's  defence.  I  came  home  yesterday  to 
enlist,  but  my  father  refused  his  consent.  I  am  not 
quite  of  age  and  I  feel  that  it  Avould  be  wrong  to  dis- 
regard his  wishes." 

"  Your  father  is  sadly  prejudiced,  I  must  say  Charlie. 
Still,  I  admire  your  regard   for  his  authority." 

"  I  thank  you  for  saying  so,  and  I  told  him  if  the 
war  continued  and  I  held  the  same  views,  I  should 
probably  enlist  as  soon  as  I  came  of  age,  three  months 
from  now." 

"  Give  me  your  hand  on  that,  my  boy,"  said  Chet- 
wynde heartily ;  "  and   Clint  can  go  with  you,  if  the 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  45 

thing  lasts  that  long.  With  such  boys  to  defend  her 
our  country  need  not  fear,"  and  he  sang  with  patriotic 
enthusiasm  : 

"And  the  star  spangled  banner  in  triumpli  shall  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave!  " 

"  And  then  it  will  be  truly  'the  land  of  the  free, '  " 
he  continued.  "  Lincoln  well  said  that  this  country 
cannot  exist  haK  slave,  half  free,  and  it  will  now  be  all 
free.  The  first  shot  on  Sumter  sounded  the  knell  of 
slavery.  The  issue  had  to  come^  and  it  might  as 
well  be  fought  out^  now  as  later,  and  I  envy  you  young 
men  who  can  help  do  it.  Slavery  could  not  always 
exist  in  a  Nation  of  freemen.  Freedom  and  slavery  are 
opposites,  and  there  is  an  irrepressible  conflict  between 
them.  There  will  be  first  hatred,  then  friction  and 
finally  open  war." 

"  The  seeds  of  civil  war  between  the  states  of  our 
Republic,"  he  continued  more  earnestly,  "were  planted 
at  the  moment  when  human  slavery  was  established 
within  its  borders,  before  the  Nation  as  such  was  born. 
Long  they  lay  dormant,  but  they  were  not  dead.  The 
conditions  necessary  to  their  growth  soon  developed ; 
then  they  germinated  and  sprung  up,  and  are  now 
producing  their  dread  crop  —  wounds  and  death.  They 
germinated  when  slavery  sought  to  extend  itself  into 
Kansas  and  the  Northwest ;  the  ugly  plant  appeared 
above  ground  when  the  fugitive  slave  law  was  ordained ; 
the  blade  grew  rapidly  when  the  South  vigorously  tried 
to  enforce  it ;  the  ear  appeared  when  the  property  of 


46  ENEMIES    IN   THE   BEAK  ; 

the  United  States  was  stolen  by  Floyd,  and  secession 
proclaimed  ;  and  the  harvest  was  ripe  and  the  reaping 
began  with  the  firing  on  Sumter.  It  is  an  ugly  crop, 
and  a  little  time,  and  some  blood  and  money,  will  be 
required  to  reap  it,  but  when  it  is  reaped  and  destroyed 
the  field  will  be  forever  cleared,  and  then  unhindered 
will  grow  the  glad  harvest  of  universal  freedom." 

In  his  enthusiasm  Chetwynde  became  eloquent. 
Clinton  was  much  excited. 

"I'm  old  enough  to  go,"  he  cried;  "I  read  of  boys 
much  younger  than  I  going.  I  want  to  go  now, 
father." 

"  When  Charlie  goes  you  can  go,"  replied  his  father. 

"  But  it  may  be  all  over  then,  and  I  want  to  have 
part  in  it,"  persisted  Clinton. 

Mrs.  Chetwynde,  who  was  a  deeply  interested  listener 
but  thus  far  had  said  nothing,  now  interposed. 

"Clinton,  CHnton,  the  President's  call  for  75,0U0 
soldiers  is  being  responded  to  by  far  more  men  than  can 
be  taken.  The  whole  North  is  rising  up  and  boys  as 
young  as  you  will  not  be  needed." 

"  They  aren't  all  rising  up,  mother,"  said  Frank  who 
had  been  quietly  listening  to  the  conversation  ;  "I  heard 
Pete  Prantman  say  at  Baltzer's  yesterday  that  the  nig- 
ger-worshipers would  now  get  what  they  deserved,  and 
that  several  had  already  found  tlieir  deserts  in  Bal- 
timore." 

"The  big  coward,"  exclaimed  Charles  Ruth  von 
angrily. 


OE,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  47 

"  I  called  him  a  traitor  on  the  spot,"  said  Frank 
proudly,"  and  I  reckon  if  Tom  Hartnagel  —  and,  say, 
Clint,  Tom  is  going  to  enlist  this  very  week !  —  if  he 
hadn't  been  present,  Pete  would  have  hit  me.  Tom 
yelled  'Bully  for  you,  young  Yankee,'  and  Pete  said 
'  the  young  Abolitionist  would  be  caught  alone  some  day 
and  then  he'd  catch  what  he  deserved.'  I  told  him  he'd 
likely  catch  what  he'd  like  to  let  go,  but  couldn't." 

Frank  received  a  round  of  applause  for  his  courage 
and  wit.  Clinton  was  in  great  spirits  at  the  prospect 
of  being  a  soldier  in  a  few  montlis.  Charles  Ruthvon 
tried  hard  to  be  cheerful  and  Mr.  Chetwynde  seconded 
his  efforts,  but  the  interview  of  the  previous  evening 
would  obtrude  itself  and  he  soon  returned  home,  down- 
hearted and  moody. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


THE    OLD,    OLD    STORY. 


A  week  later  Charles  Ruthvon  and  Blanche  Chet- 
wynde  sat  together  under  an  oak  in  the  lane  leading  from 
the  ChetwjTide  place  through  the  fields  to  the  "back" 
road.  It  was  a  delightful  spring  afternoon  at  the  close 
of  April.  At  that  time  of  the  year,  in  that  latitude  and 
longitude  the  fruit  trees  are  m  blosson,  the  bees  hum 
and  the  leaves  appear  on  the  forest  trees.  But  while 
nature's  glad  anthem  sounded  forth,  there  entered  into 
its  grand  harmony  discordant  notes  —  the  blast  of  trum- 
pet and  beat  of  drum  calling  to  arms  in  the  North  and 
the  South.  The  flowers  were  sweet  as  ever,  the  grass 
as  green,  the  woods  as  vocal,  but  a  hushed  feeling  of 
expectation  was  over  the  community. 

The  youthful  couple  under  the  tree  partook  of  it. 
They  admired  the  dandelions  shining  like  stars  in  a 
cushion  of  green,  they  listened  to  the  robins  and  the 
blackbirds,  but  these  things  did  not  seem  as  in  other 
years.  The  young  man  thought  of  his  fair  companion. 
He  had  often  done  so  before,  but  in  some  way  he  now 
linked  her  closely  with  himself,  and  both  with  the  stir- 
ring events  so  sure  to  f oIIoav  the  fall  of  Sumter.  They  had 
spoken  of  many  things  —  the  excitement  at  Pennbrook 
College,  the  call  for  troops,  the  uprising  in  the  North. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  49 

"  Blanche,"  said  Charles  after  a  silence  of  some  min- 
utes, looking  wistfully. into  his  companion's  face,  "  would 
you  care  if  Charlie  Ruthvon  went  away  to  war,  perhaps 
never  to  come  back  again  ?  " 

Blanche  blushed,  timidly  plucked  a  dandelion  and  for 
a  moment  gave  no  reply. 

"■  You  have  been  a  dear  friend  of  our  family  for  so 
many  years  in  a  neighborhood  where  many  dislike  us 
and  few  care  for  us,"  she  at  length  said  with  a  faltering 
voice,  "  and  I  would  be  ungrateful  indeed  if  I  did  not 
care." 

"  I  feel  certain  that  after  a  few  brief  weeks  duty  will 
call  me  to  my  country's  defence,  and  I  cannot  go  and 
leave  unspoken  that  which  my  heart  is  so  full  of." 

"  You  remember,"  he  continued,  encouraged  by  her 
silence,  '•  that  when  I  first  saw  you  a  little  girl  I  admired 
you ;  as  you  grew  older  my  admiration  increased,  and 
for  a  long  time  I  have  done  what  your  heart  surely  told 
you,  and  what  I  hope  it  has  not  despised  —  I  have 
loved  you,  and  I  love  you  now." 

He  took  her  hand  as  he  spoke,  and  as  many  maidens 
have  been  wont  to  do  under  like  interesting  circum- 
stances, Blanche  hung  her  head  and  blushed  but  said 
nothing. 

"And  I  am  trying  to  be  unselfish,"  he  went  on;  "I 
want  to  make  you  happy,  if  you  will  let  me  try,  and 
protect  you  from  danger,  if  there  should  be  any," 

"  Charles,  I  believe  in  your  sincerity,"  she  returned, 
disengaging  her  hand.     "•  I  have  known  your  feelings 


50  ENEMIES    IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

and  will  tell  you  all  my  heart,  for  between  dear  friends 
there  should  be  no  dissimulation  ;  but  there  is  a  diffi- 
culty in  the  way." 

"You  do  not  love  me,  then,"  he  said  sadly,  "or  per- 
haps there  is  some  one  whom  you  love  better." 

"  Charlie !  you  do  me  wrong,"  she  exclaimed  looking 
up  and  speaking  almost  angrily ;  "  on  the  contrary, 
my  "  —  she  hesitated  and  blushed  deeply  —  "  my  heart 
responds  to  yours,  and  —  wait,"  she  said  as  he  at- 
tempted to  fold  her  in  his  arms, —  "  wait,  and  hear  me 
out." 

"  Speak,  Blanche ;  but  you  have  put  the  cup  of  hap- 
piness to  my  lips,  and  I  beg  of  you  do  not  dash  it  to 
the  ground  before  I  even  taste  it." 

"  Listen  calmly,  Charlie ;  my  parents  esteem  you 
most  highly  and  I  am  sure  that  on  their  part  there 
would  be  no  objection  to  your  suit.  But  I  do  know 
your  father's  sentiments,  for  you  have  often  told  me  of 
them." 

"  But  he  never  said  a  disparaging  word  of  you,  except 
that  you  couldn't  milk  a  cow,"  replied  the  young  man 
eagei'ly,  "  and  in  my  eyes  that  is  not  a  serious  defect  • 
on  the  other  hand,  he  has  often  admired  your  beauty 
and  spoken  of  your  intelligence." 

"  If  my  inability  to  milk  a  cow  were  the  only  diffi- 
culty, I  could  soon  remove  it,"  she  said  smiling,  "  but  it 
is  not.  You  know  his  aversion  to  my  father  and  my 
father's  anti-slavery  views,  and  I  am  certain  that  the 
marriage  of  his  only  son  to  a  Yankee  girl  would  make 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUARED.  51 

him  very  unhappy,  and  I  should  feel  that  I  was  not 
welcome  in  his  family.  And,  Charlie,"  she  continued 
with  great  spirit,  "  I  will  never  go  into  a  family  as  a 
bride  where  I  would  not  be  loved  by  its  head." 

"  But  my  father  loves  me,"  pleaded  the  lover,  ''and 
when  he  learns  that  my  happiness  is  involved  he  will 
offer  no  further  objections." 

"  I  am  sure  he  will.  In  this  I,  a  woman,  know  him 
better  than  you  do.  But  even  if  he  did  not  because  he 
loves  you,  he  would  only  tolerate  me,  and  the  very  fact 
that  he  loves  you  would  increase  his  unhappiness. 
Were  we  to  live  away  from  your  family,  it  might  do, 
but  your  father's  desire  is  that  you  are  always  to 
remain  on  the  old  homestead.  This  idea  he  has  long 
cherished." 

"  But  my  father  already  admires  you  and  in  time  he 
would  love  you  as  a  daughter,"  urged  Charles  ;  "besides 
you  have  secured  a  warm  place  already  in  my  mother's 
heart.  Anyhow,  is  it  right  that  we  should  permit  our 
happiness  to  be  blighted  because  my  father  may  at  first 
object  to  our  union  ?  " 

Blanche  was  much  moved  by  this  appeal,  but  after 
a  moment  she  said  with  a  firm  voice : 

"  Let  us  wait  and  hope.  Even  you  are  not  of  age 
yet,  and  troublous  times  seem  close  at  hand." 

"  But  should  I  go  away  and  never  return,  would 
you  not  bitterly  regret  your  refusal  after  the  admis- 
sion you  have  made?"  he  asked,  loth  to  give  up  his 
suit. 


52  ENEINGES   IN  THE   REAR  ; 

"  Well,  Charlie,  you  are  not  gone  yet,"  said  slie  eva- 
sively, trying  to  speak  gaily  and  failing  wretchedly. 

"But  duty  will  call  me." 

"  Care  taken  now  before  speaking  words  that  cannot 
be  recalled  may  save  many  a  heartache  hereafter,"  she 
responded,  rising. 

"  After  our  mutual  confessions  of  love  heartaches 
will  surely  come  if  our  love  is  thwarted,"  said  Charles 
as  they  walked  slowly  and  sadly  up  the  lane  toward 
home. 

"  I  know  it,  oh  !  I  know  it !  "  she  replied  sobbing  bit- 
terly ;  "  and  I  give  you  my  promise  that  whenever  your 
father  can  receive  me  into  his  home  not  only  because  he 
loves  you  but  also  because  he  loves  me,  I  will  forg'et  his 
feelings  toward  my  father  and  be  yours,  forever  yours. 
Yes,  Charlie,"  she  said  as  if  moved  by  a  sudden  impulse, 
"  if  you  can  assure  me  to-morrow  that  he  regards  me 
with  favor  and  will  approve  your  choice,  I  will  seal  our 
betrothal  with  a  kiss." 

"  Look  for  me  to-morrow,"  he  cried  impetuously,  but 
remembering  his  fathei;'s  prejudices,  he  added  in  a  low 
tone':  "  but  if  I  fail,  dearest  Blanche,  I  will  trust  you  as 
you  do  me." 

Our  hero  returned  home  with  ming-led  feelino^s  of 
anxiety  and  hope,  but  Blanche  Chetwynde  with  her 
own  lips  had  made  a  confession  of  love,  and  though  his 
father  disliked  Mr.  Chetwynde,  surely  he  could  have  no 
serious  objection  to  his  daughter. 

"I  shall  be  able  to-morrow  to   go  back  to  Blanche 


OE,     A    GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUAEED.  53 

and  triumphantly  meet  her  condition  of  acceptance," 
said  he  to  himself. 

When  Catharine  and  grandmother  had  retired  he  laid 
aside  the  book  he  had  unsuccessfully  tried  to  read,  and 
sought  an  opportunity  to  introduce  the  subject  nearest 
his  heart.  His  mother  was  busy  sewing,  and  with  the 
old  instinct  softly  crooned  a  lullaby  as  she  plied  her 
needle.  His  father  was  in  an  unfortunate  mood  for  the 
matter  in  hand,  but  Charles  did  not  know  it. 

It  so  happened  that  Mr.  Ruthvon  was  engaged  in 
reading  the  Reading  Adler,  or  Eagle.  Now,  the  Eagle  was 
a  weekly  German  newspaper  with  a  very  large  circula- 
tion among  the  country  Pennsylvania  Dutch.  Into 
many  a  home  no  other  print  ever  went.  Next  after  the 
Bible  it  was  held  in  highest  esteem.  Indeed,  it  was 
extensively  known  as  the  "  Berks  County  Bible."  It 
need  hardly  be  said  that  this  paper  wielded  a  tremen- 
dous influence  among  these  unsophisticated  folk.  If  a 
dispute  arose  about  anything  in  the  heavens  above,  or 
in  the  earth  beneath,  or  in  the  waters  under  the  earth, 
and  eithea:  disputant  could  show  that  the  Eagle  was 
on  his  side,  the  question  was  usually  considered  settled 
in  his  favor. 

Doctor  Heifer — who  was  much  prejudiced  however 
—  said  that  it  should  have  been  called  the  Buzzard 
instead  of  ^the  Eagle. 

"  Why  do  you  take  it  any  longer  ?  "  he  asked  Squire 
Zweispringer  one  day.  "  I  wonder  at  you,  Look  at 
it !     It  glories  in  its  shame  and  in  one  way  and  another 


54  '    ENEMIES    IX   THE   REAR  ; 

it's  the  cause  of  much  of  the  trouble  in  this  part  of  the 
country  at  present.  Doesn't  it  do  all  in  its  power,  so 
far  as  it  safely  can,  to  hinder  the  government  in  its 
awful  struggle  ?  Doesn't  it  teach  the  people  to  hate  the 
President  ?  And  don't  they  believe  every  word  it  says 
just  as  much  as  they  believe  old  Dox  or  young  Heimer? 
I  wonder  at  you." 

It  is  veiy  certain  that  the  Eagle  opposed  the  war 
and  that  to  a  large  degree  it  shaped  the  political  opin- 
ions of  Copton  township  and  the  country  round  about. 
No  less  true  is  it  that  Frederick  Ruthvon  was  almost 
entirely  guided  by  it.  Something  that  he  was  reading 
when  his  son  entered  the  room  this  evening  excited  him 
but,  as  was  generally  the  case,  he  kept  his  feelings  so 
well  concealed  that  Charles  was  not  aware  of  his  excite- 
ment. 

"  Please  excuse  me  for  interrupting  you,"  Charles 
began,  "  but  I  have  something  of  importance  to  us  all 
about  which  I  should  like  to  speak  to  you  and  mother 
this  evening." 

Mrs.  Ruthvon  ceased  her  crooning  and  the  rapid 
movements  of  her  right  hand  and  looked  up  from  her 
work.  Mr.  Ruthvon  merely  said,  "  Indeed,  by  Schin- 
nerhannes  !  "  and  glanced  inquiringly  at  his  son.  Ob- 
serving how  anxious  the  latter  seemed,  he  said  hastily : 
—  "  You  haven't  enlisted  have  you  ?  You  remember 
your  promise." 

"  And  shall  keep  it." 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  it,  for  this  cursed  abolition  busi- 


OK,     A   GOLDEN"   CIECLE   SQUARED.  55 

ness  seems  to  make  men  forget  their  word  and  every- 
thing else  that  ought  to  be  sacred.  I  tell  you  Charlie, 
these  confounded  New  Englanders  are  a  nuisance.  If 
they  had  minded  their  own  business  and  let  alone  that 
of  the  Southern  people,  we  would  not  have  the  trouble 
that  is  now  upon  the  country,  and  the  Eagle  agrees 
with  me." 

Charles  readily  saw  that  if  his  father  once  began 
to  discuss  political  matters,  there  would  be  little  wisdom 
in  broaching  a  topic  so  closely  related  to  their  Yankee 
neighbor  as  the  one  of  which  he  wished  to  speak.  So 
he  began  at  once. 

"  You  know  that  Blanche  Chetwynde  and  I  have 
been  together  a  good  deal  for  years,"  he  said  with 
faltering  voice,  "  and  you  know  all  about  her.  You  say 
I  am  to  occupy  the  old  home  some  day.  Would  you 
object  to  have  Blanche  come  here  as  your  daughter  ?  " 

"  The  longer  the  worse,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Ruthvon, 
rising  up  and  walking  the  floor.  "  Wife,  here  is  our 
only  son "  —  and  the  father's  voice  trembled  for  a 
moment  —  "  for  whom  we  have  done  so  much.  He 
sides  with  the  niggers  and  Doctor  Heifer,  all  through 
that  infernal  Yankee,  and  now  he  must  ask  besides 
to  bring  the  daughter  into  our  home.  Everything  that 
the  Ruthvons  held  dear  goes  to  the  ground.  She  can't 
talk  Dutch,  she  can't  milk,  and  she's  an  Abolitionist. 
Wouldn't  Charlie  look  nice  milking  the  cows  and  feed- 
ing the  pigs,  while  his  wife  sat  in  the  house  rocking 
herself  or  playing  the  piano  ?     Ha  !  ha  !     Go  away  !  " 


56  ENEISIIES   EST   THE   REAR  ; 

Charles  writhed  while  his  father  was  speaking,  and 
with  difficulty  restrained  himself  from  interrupting 
him. 

"But  she" — he  began,  rising  up  flushed  and  angry. 

"Never  mind,"  said  Mr.  Ruthvon  impetuously,  stop- 
ping in  his  walking  and  turning  on  his  son ;  "  such  a 
match  would  never  be  a  happy  one,  and  you  yourself 
would  deeply  regret  the  step  when  forever  too  late. — - 
There  is  no  need,  Charlie,"  he  continued  in  a  calmer 
and  more  conciliatory  tone,  "  of  your  going  to  New 
England  for  a  wife.  Dutch  girls  are  plenty.  Don't, 
don't !  You're  soon  of  age ;  then  you  can  do  as  you 
will,  but  I  tell  you  that  I  will  never  consent  to  your 
marrying  the  Yankee's  daughter." 

Charles  had  time  to  reflect  on  what  was  at  stake,  and 
was  thus  enabled  to  control  his  grief  and  anger. 

"But  Blanche  can  work  and  is  intelligent,  truthful 
and  religious,"  said  he  with  outward  calmness. 

"  Never  mind,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Ruthvon,  his  Pennsyl- 
vania Dutch  stubbornness  now  thoroughly  aroused ;  "  I 
have  nothing  against  the  girl's  character,  but  my  whole 
soul  rebels  against  the  idea  of  your  marrying  a  Yankee 
woman,  and  I'm  afraid  that  if  you  did  so,  great-grand- 
father Johannes  Ruthvon  would  turn  over  in  his 
coffin." 

Great-grandfather  Ruthvon  would  do  nothing  of  the 
kind.  No  !  The  simple  truth  is  that  the  grandfathers 
and  the  grandmothers  who  have  gone  hence  do  not 
allow    themselves    to    be    as    easily    disturbed   by   the 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  57 

changes  we  make  in  our  creeds  and  customs,  and  our 
breaking  away  from  old  traditions  and  superstitions,  as 
we,  with  Frederick  Ruth  von,  sometimes  imagine.  Their 
bodies  continue  to  sleep  calmly,  and  their  rest  in  heaven 
is  not  interrupted  by  such  bagatelles. 

So  far  as  is  known  this  thought  did  not  at  the  time 
pass  through  Charles  Ruthvon's  mind,  but  a  question 
formulated  itself  there  and  found  quick  expression. 

"  How  would  Ret  Prantman  do?"  he  asked  sarcasti- 
cally ;  "  they  say  she  wouldn't  object  to  milking  our 
cows  and  feeding  our  pigs." 

"  She  would  at  least  be  in  sympathy  with  our  ways 
and  wouldn't  think  herself  above  us,"  retorted  the 
father. 

"  And  we  would  all  be  truly  happy,  including  brother- 
in-law  Pete,"  said  Charles. 

''And  I  think,"  said  Ruthvon,  senior,  interrogatively 
and  d.-awing  out  his  words  as  one  might  a  rubber  band, 
"  that  the  Yankee's  daughter  is  quite  eager  to  become 
the  wife  of  a  Pennsylvania  Dutchman  and  to  come  to 
our  Dutch  home  ?     Say  once,  you  ?  " 

"  On  the  contrary,"  answered  Charles,  not  heeding 
his  father's  taunt,  "  though  I  know  she  loves  me,  yet 
she  refuses  even  to  engage  herself  to  me  unless  she  is 
assured  that  you  will  receive  and  love  her  as  a 
daughter." 

"  Well !  After  all  that  girl  has  sense,  by  Schinner. 
hannes ! "  exclaimed  Mr.  Ruthvon  sitting  down  and 
looking  much  relieved.      "  She'll  soon  see  that  it's  far 


58  ENEISIIES    EST   THE   EEAE  ; 

better  for  you  both  tliat  you  should  have  nothing  more 
to  say  to  each  other  on  such  things." 

Charles  perceived  that  he  must  return  to  Blanche 
unable  to  say  that  her  one  condition  was  met. 

"  You  are  prejudiced  and  cruel,  father,"  he  said  an- 
grily, and  the  next  moment  he  had  vanished  from  the 
room. 

"  Fred,  I  said  nothing  at  all  while  you  and  Charlie 
were  speaking,"  said  Mrs.  Ruth  von  in  her  quiet  way 
after  Charles  had  gone.  "  Let  us  be  very  careful  in 
this  thing,  lest  we  do  what  may  bring  years  of  regret. 
By  opposing  Charlie,  may  not  still  Avorse  things  follow 
than  his  marrying  Blanche  Chetwynde?  He  is  your 
son,  and  if  he  is  persevering  in  what  he  has  set  his 
heart  on,  remember  that  he  inherited  a  good  share  of 
his  nature  from  the  Ruthvons." 

"  There  you  are  again,  Maria  I  apologizing  for  him  in 
his  opposition  to  my  wishes,"  said  her  husband  with  a 
degree  of  impatience  unusual  for  him  where  she  was 
concerned. 

"  I'm  only  asking  a  question,  Fred,  that  will  bear 
thinking,  over,"  she  softly  replied  and  then  left  the 
apartment.  A  moment  later  she  entered  her  boy's  room. 
He  sat  on  the  edge  of  his  bed  disappointed  and  gloomy. 

"  Be  patient,  Charlie  ;  the  dear  Lord  God  will  bring 
it  all  right,"  she  said  soothingly." 

"  Mother,"  he  said  taking  her  hand  and  looking  in- 
tently at  her,  "  you  like  Blanche,  don't  you  ?  and  you 
won't  oppose  me,  will  you  ?  " 


OR,    A   GOLDEN  CIRCLE   SQUARED.  59 

She  simply  gave  him  a  look  of  motherly  affection  and 
smiled.     He  understood  her  and  pressed  her  hand. 

'»  Good  night,"  she  said,  and  imprinted  upon  his  fore- 
head such  a  kiss  as  only  a  mother  can  give,  remembered 
and  felt  when  the  head  has  grown  gray  and  the  eye  dim. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

TIDINGS    OF    A    GREAT    BATTLE   KEACH    "THE   PEOPLE'S 
HOTEL." 

Dan  Baltzer's  tavern  in  Haltfest  was  the  principal  one 
of  three  public  establishments  of  its  kind  in  that  notable 
village.  It  was  dignified  by  the  name  of  "  The  People's 
Hotel,"  painted  in  large,  fiery  letters  on  the  signboard 
that  swung  on  the  high  post  before  the  door.  The 
name  indicated  that  there  was  nothing  narrow  about 
this  particular  tavern  whatever  might  be  true  of  its 
rivals.  Not  only  were  the  villagers  welcome  within  its 
walls  but  also  the  inhabitants  of  the  whole  township  of 
Copton  and  all  the  region  round  about. 

Here  was  entertainment  for  man  and  beast,  that  for 
the  former  consisting  quite  largely  of  whiskey  and  la- 
ger-beer. Freedom  from  restraint  was  found  at  this 
pubhc  also.  The  lounger  could  sit  in  one  chair  and  put 
his  feet  on  two  more  ;  he  could  expectorate  without 
regard  to  the  cuspidor,  talk  as  loud  as  he  chose,  swear, 
swagger  and  utter  any  sentiment  whatever,  without  any 
rebuke  from  the  stolid,  beer-soaked  proprietor  or  his  sub- 
ordinate behmd  the  bar.  Nay,  he  could  even  step  into 
the  latter  sacred  precinct  itseK  if  the  bartender  were 
very  busy  at  the  time,  and  pick  out  of  the  pile  his  copy 
of  the  Reading  Adler. 


OR,    A    GOLDEif   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  61 

Of  an  evening  the  village  j)liilosophers,  the  beer-drink- 
ers, the  gossips,  the  seekers  after  news,  gathered  here. 
Since  the  rumors  of  war  began  to  be  heard  the  number 
of  visitors  had  increased  largely.  War  measures  were 
discussed,  and  more  plans  than  one  whereby  all  national 
troubles  might  readily  be  healed  were  proposed  by  as 
many  different  wiseacres. 

The  particular  time  when  the  reader  is  introduced 
into  this  hostelry  is  Monday  evening,  July  22,  1861. 
For  several  days  previous  the  weather  had  been  excess- 
ively hot,  but  to-night  it  was  much  cooler  —  just  such 
a  summer  night  as  the  tavern  lounger  would  wish  for. 
The  large  bar-room  was  half  full  of  men,  and  numbers 
sat  on  the  long  bench  on  the  hotel-stoop.  Some  were 
smoking,  others  drinking  and  munching  pretzels.  As 
usual,  some  feature  of  the  war  was  the  chief  topic  of 
conversation  among  the  various  groups.  Even  the  oats 
crop  and  cards  received  small  attention. 

Doctor  Heifer  stood  leaning  with  his  elbow  on  the 
bar  conversing  with  four  or  five  men.  Despite  the  fact 
that  his  political  views  differed  so  widely  from  those  of 
the  great  majority  of  the  community,  he  was  commonly 
listened  to  with  attention  when  he  spoke  of  matters 
relating  to  the  war.  Indeed  his  opinion  carried  weight 
and  was  often  sought,  and  in  hearing  him  with  defer- 
ence his  opponents  simply  paid  the  tribute  which  supe- 
rior knowledge  is  sure  to  receive  from  the  uneducated 
and  poorly  informed. 

"  The    war    will    probably    soon    be    over,"    said    he 


62  ENEMIES  nsr  the  rear  ; 

rather  oracularly  in  answer  to  a  question  by  one  of  the 
group. 

''  Ts  that  now  your  opinion,  doctor,  clean  down  ?  " 
asked  an  old  man  by  the  name  of  Stettler. 

"  It  certainly  is,"  replied  the  doctor  very  compla- 
cently, "  and  111  tell  you  why,  Christopher.  It's  less 
than  two  months  since  General  McClellan  went  into  the 
western  part  of  Virginia  with  his  troops,  and  yet  he 
has  already  cleaned  out  the  rebels  pretty  well  there. 
Only  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel  was  lost,  and  it  didn't 
amount  to  much.  At  this  rate  Virginia  Avill  soon  be 
rid  of  secesh,  and  with  Virginia  lost  the  South  must 
soon  give  up." 

"  Say  now,  doctor,  tell  me  how  this  here  thing  began 
anyhow.  What  was  the  cause  of  all  this  blamed  fuss? 
I'll  be  hanged  if  I  can  understand  it." 

Christopher  Stettler  was  again  the  speaker,  and  he 
looked  very  much  as  if  none  but  the  simplest  subjects 
were  comprehensible  by  him. 

"  You're  a  dumb-head,  that's  what  you  are ;  any- 
body ought  to  know  that  there  !  " 

The  last  speaker  was  a  middle-aged  man  bearing  the 
euphonious  name  of  Sparger  —  Ad  Sparger.  Ad  was 
nearly  always  a  little  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  and 
very  much  so  when  not  a  little.  His  eyes  were  small 
and  watery,  and  he  had  a  habit  of  winking  in  a  slow, 
weak  sort  of  way  with  the  left  one  when  he  thought  he 
was  saying  something  unusually  good,  his  body  mean- 
while swaying  gently  backward  and  forward.     His  ears 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE   SQUARED.  63 

were  very  large,  as  if  nature  had  sought  to  make  up  in 
the  size  of  these  organs  for  the  smaUness  of  his  eyes. 
On  one  side  of  his  head,  resting  on  a  big  ear  and  shad- 
ing his  little  flat  nose,  sat  an  old,  battered  "  stove-pipe  " 
hat  that  had  belonged  to  his  grandfather  in  the  prosper- 
ous days  of  the  family.  He  wore  a  threadbare  blue 
swallow-tailed  coat,  and  short,  shabby  pantaloons  in  the 
pockets  of  which  he  generally  had  his  hands.  His 
shoes  corresponded  with  the  rest  of  his  attire. 

Men  knew  where  Ad  lived,  but  few  seemed  to  know 
or  care  how.  Most  of  his  time  indeed  was  spent  at 
"  The  People's  Hotel,"  where  he  Avas  tolerated  because 
he  was  inoffensive  and  good-natured,  but  more  especially 
because  when  anyone  stood  treat  "  all  around "  he 
counted  one,  and  thus  put  the  price  of  a  drink  into 
Baltzer's  till.  His  panacea,  in  things  bodily  and  spirit- 
ual, was  whiskey.  It  cooled  him  when  hot,  warmed 
him  when  cold,  made  him  joyful  when  sad,  and  when 
merry  made  him  merrier  still.  His  strong  expression 
on  all  occasions  was  "  Let's  drink  one  "  —  the  "  one  " 
meaning  a  glass  of  the  panacea  aforesaid,  and  the  whole 
being  a  gentle  hint  to  any  one  inclined  to  treat.  It 
never  meant  that  he  wished  to  treat,  for,  alas  ! 

On  the  present  occasion  he  stood  in  his  favorite 
attitude  on  the  edge  of  the  group  to  which  Heifer  was 
talking,  and  when  he  rebuked  Stettler's  ignorance  he 
gave  his  weak  wink  at  the  doctor. 

"  Is  that  so  ? "  said  the  latter ;  "  suppose.  Ad,  you 
explain  this  thing  to  Stettler  and  the  rest  of  us  now." 


64  ENEMIES   IN   THE   KEAE. ; 

This  was  not  what  the  loafer  expected  when  he 
interrupted  the  conversation,  and  he  looked  foolishly 
around  on  the  company  that  had  by  this  time  gathered 
about  the  speakers.  Suddenly,  as  if  a  happy  thought 
had  struck  him,  he  exclaimed  :  — 

"  Say,  doctor,  let's  drink  one  !  " 

"  Ho !  that  woukbi't  do,"'  said  Heifer  winking  at  the 
crowd ;  "  you  oughtn't  to  call  a  man  a  dumb-head  and 
then  not  tell  him  what  he  wants  to  know  when  you 
have  the  information  at  your  tongue's  end.  —  No  telling 
though,  Ad,  what  may  hapjDen  if  you  speak  up  like 
a  man  now." 

This  delicate  hint  at  the  forthcoming  of  more  panacea 
spurred  up  Sparger  Avonderfully. 

"  Well,"  he  began  after  sputtering  and  gulping  a 
moment,  "  it  was  just  this  here  way :  you  see  the 
Democrats  had  a  convention  some  time  ago  ;  something 
displeased  the  New  England  States,  and  so  they  began 
to  shoot  into  the  Baltimore  platform,  and  they  all 
began  to  fight  through  each  other,  and  there's  no  tell- 
mg  where  it'll  end,  and  that's  the  clean  down  honest 
truth  !  "  * 

Sparger's  explanation  was  greeted  with  a  shout  of 
laughter. 

"  Jack  Bunsby  himself  couldn't  beat  that.  Ad,"  said 
the  doctor  as  soon  as  he  could  control  his  merriment. 
"  You  are  not  far  wrong  though  ;  you  only  got  mixed  a 

*  This  explanation  of  the  origin  of  the  war  was  actually  made  by  one  Pennsyl- 
vania tterman  to  another,  as  overheard  by  an  intimate  friend  of  the  author. 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  65 

bit  in  regard  to  the  secession  of  a  part  of  the  Demo- 
cratic convention  at  Charleston,  in  May  of  last  year, 
which  had  a  good  deal  to  do  with  the  beginning  of  this 
trouble." 

"  You  dumb-heads,  you  can  laugh  if  it  pleases  you," 
said  Sparger,  raised  from  his  crestfallen  condition  by 
the  doctor's  words  and  looking  around  triumphantly; 
"  but  I  came  a  mighty  piece  nearer  the  mark  than  any 
of  you  could  have  done. —  Doctor,  let's  drink  one  !  " 

"  Ad,  you  richly  deserve  a  schmaler*  after  such  an 
effort,"  said  Heifer. 

"  Then  give  me  my  deserts,"  retorted  the  loafer  with 
ready  wit. 

"  Ho  !  I'm  afraid  in  that  case,  Ad,  you'd  get  more 
than  you  Avant,  but  you  shall  have  the  schmaler  to 
begin  on  anyhow." 

"  Will  the  war  be  over  by  winter  ?  "  asked-  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Hahn  after  they  had  watched  Sparger 
drink  his  liquor.  "  They  say  the  Southerners  are 
terrible  fighters,  particular  them  that's  coming  up  now 
from  Louisiana." 

"It's  a  little  like  a  man  with  remittent  fever,"  replied 
the  doctor  with  the  air  which  a  man  acquires  who  is 
listened  to  much  as  an  oracle  would  be  ;  "  you  can't  tell 
just  what  day  he's  going  to  take  hold  of  the  plow- 
handles  again,  but  at  present  it  looks  as  if  by  winter 
Uncle  Sam  would  be  master  in  every  part  of  the  Union 
once  more.     I  think   by  the   time  the   snow-geese  fly 

♦Drink  of  liquor. 


66  ENEMIES   IN  THE  EEAB  ; 

south  our  boys  will  all  come  north.  The  Southerners 
are  finding  out  in  western  Virginia  that  instead  of  each 
one  of  them  being  a  match  for  three  Northerners,  as 
they  used  to  boast,  he  is  not  a  match  even  for  one. 
They  can't  stand  up  before  our  troops,  and  I  venture  to 
say  that  the  Tammany  regiment  which  passed  through 
here  two  weeks  ago  is  able  to  whip  any  tAvo  regiments 
that  the  Southerners  "  — 

Just  then  Davy  Rauhzahn,  the  doctor's  ofiice-boy, 
came  into  the  room.  He  went  quickly  up  to  the  doctor 
and  in  a  low  voice  asked  him  to  step  outside.  The 
people  thought  it  only  meant  a  patient  needing  the 
physician's  instant  attention,  and  paid  no  more  heed  to 
them.  When  the  boy  had  led  his  employer  out  of  ear- 
shot he  said  excitedly : 

"  It's  all  up,  doctor  !  " 

"  What's  all  up,  Davy  ?  Is  old  Mrs.  Shiffler  dead  at 
last?     I  thought"  — 

"  Oh,  no,"  interrupted  Davy  :  "  worse  than  ten  Mrs. 
Shifflers.     The  Union  men's  licked  awful." 

"  Licked,  Davy  ?     Tell  about  it  quick  !  " 

"  I  was  at  the  depot  when  the  late  train  went  up,  to 
get  a  paper  as  you  told  me  to,  but  I  couldn't  get  one, 
but  a  man  from  Reading  got  off  the  cars  and  he  said  to 
Ike  Warzenluft  that  the  Unions  under  McDevil  and  the 
rebels  had  an  awful  fight  yesterday  sometime  at  a  place 
called  Molasses  Johnson  not  far  from  Washington  and 
that  our  men  was  all  smashed,  and  nearly  the  whole  of 
the   Tammany  regiment  that  stopped  here  two  weeks 


OE,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  67 

ago  was  killed, —  I  wonder  whether  the  colonel's  horse 
you  admired  so  much  and  called  a  nice  cheval  was  shot, 
too  ?  "  — 

"  Never  mind  the  horse  ;  what  more  did  the  man 
say  ?  "  interrupted  the  doctor  impatiently. 

'"■  That  likely  by  this  time  Congress,  which  turned  out 
to  see  the  fight,  was  took,  and  maybe  Washmgton  too." 

"'This  is  awful,"  said  Heifer  much  excited.  _  "  Was 
any  one  else  by  Avhen  this  man  spoke  to  the  ticket- 
agent  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Jake  Zellon  was,  and  he  tied  his  horse  loose  and 
rode  away  like  wild  in  the  dark  across  the  raikoad, —  to 
Prantman's  I  think,  for  he  had  their  roan  horse." 

The  doctor  ran  over  to  the  depot  and  there  learned 
from  Warzenluft  that  the  man  who  had  brought  the  ill 
news  had  gone  for  the  night  to  the  lower  hotel.  There 
was  no  telegraph  office  at  Haltfest  in  those  days  and 
Heifer  concluded  to  seek  out  the  traveler,  and  at  once 
did  so.  From  him  he  learned  in  addition  to  what  Davy 
Rauhzalm  had  already  substantially  communicated  that 
rumors  were  abroad  in  Reading  that  by  to-morrow  the 
President  would  call  on  all  able-bodied  men  to  turn  out 
at  a  moment's  notice.  He  hurried  back  to  his  office  and 
thought  the  matter  over  hastily. 

"  Come  with  me,"  said  he  to  the  lad,  who  had  re- 
tm^ned  to  the  office  and  awaited  his  commg.  "  I  am 
going  back  to  the  tavern.  They  haven't  got  the  news 
there  yet,  and  after  all  I  said  there  this  evening  it'll  be 


68  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

easier  for  me  to  break  it  to  them  than  to  have  them 
break  it  to  me.     I  can  stand  it  better." 

But  he  was  anticipated.  Before  he  and  Davy  got 
quite  to  the  hotel  they  saw  Pete  Prantman  and  Jake 
Zellon  pass  through  the  lamp-light  on  the  stoop  into  the 
bar-room.  Zellon  was  a  low-browed,  black-whiskered, 
heavy-built,  wiry  fellow  of  about  twenty-five  years  of 
age. 

He  was  feared  by  many  people  because  he  had  been 
several  times  in  trouble  on  account  of  his  lawlessness  and 
was  believed  to  be  capable  of  almost  any  villanous  deed. 
He  had  come  into  the  community  about  two  years 
before,  no  one  seemed  to  know  exactly  whence  ;  some- 
times he  worked  at  Mehlhuber's  mill  and  part  of  the 
time  for  Hans  Prantman.  He  seemed  to  be  somewhat 
attached  to  Pete,  likely  on  the  birds  of-a-feather  princi- 
ple, though  in  the  matter  of  courage  at  least  the  two 
were  quite  unlike.  There  is  no  doubt  that  to-night  he 
had  carried  to  Pete  the  news  of  the  Union  defeat,  and 
they  now  came  back  to  hear  what  would  be  said  and 
enjoy  themselves  over  the  sad  reverse  of  the  loyal  forces. 

When  Doctor  Heifer  saw  them  enter  the  tavern  a 
thrill  of  anger  passed  through  him,  because  he  knew  they 
and  many  of  those  within  would  glory  m  the  rebel 
victory.     He  quickly  followed. 

"  Well,  I  think  the  nigger-lovers  is  getting  more  than 
they  bargained  for,"  were  the  words  he  heard  as  he  and 
Davy  entered  the  bar-room. 

"  How's  that,  Pete  ?  "  asked  a  chorus  of  voices. 


OE,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED,  69 

'•  The  black  Abolitionists  and  the  Southerners  had  a 
big  fight  yesterday  somewhere  down  in  Virginny,"  he 
replied  greatly  jjleased  at  being  the  first  to  tell  the 
news,  "and  the  Lincolners  was  whipped,  and  by  this 
time  old  Abe  himself  is  no  doubt  caught  and  on  his  way 
to  Richmond  where  he  wanted  to  go  so  awful  bad." 

"  Where  did  you  hear  this  ? "  asked  the  chorus 
eagerly  pressing  about  him. 

"  Just  heard  it  from  a  man  at  the  depot,  and  he  said 
Lincoln  and  Seward  and  old  Simon  Cameron  was  last 
seen  riding  on  horses  as  hard  as  they  could  go,  each  of 
them  carrying  in  front  of  him  a  bag  of  gold  grabbed  out 
of  the  treasury,  and  that  they  was  coming  up  this  way 
to  get  to  Cameron's  house  behind  Lancaster." 

There  was  great  excitement  when  Pete  ended  and  a 
babel  of  voices. 

"The  man  said  nothing  of  the  kind,"  broke  in  Davy 
Rauhzahn,  in  his  shrill  boy  tones. 

"  Donnerwetter !  he  did,  I  tell  you,"  shouted  Pete 
turning  fiercely  upon  Davy  and  seizing  him  by  the  arm. 

"  Take  your  hand  off  Davy,  Pete,"  said  Heifer  coolly. 
"  How  was  it,  Davy  ?  " 

"  The  man  didn't  say  what  Pete  says  he  did  and  Pete 
wasn't  there  at  all,"  replied  the  lad  boldly  ;  "  nobody 
heard  the  man  speak  except  Ike  Warzenluft  and  myself, 
and  may  be  Jake  Zellon,  who  was  around  there. 

"  That's  so  ;  it's  straight  as  Davy  says  it,  lean  on 
that,"  said  Warzenluft  who  came  in  while  Davy  was 
speaking. 


70  ENEMIES    m   THE   BEAR  ; 

"  How's  this,  Pete  ?  "  asked  Hahii. 

"  I  met  peddler  Yorim  as  I  came  along  and  he  said 
the  same  thing  as  the  man  at  the  depot,  and  Doctor  Hei- 
fer, Warzenluft  and  this  here  dirty  little  Rauhzahn 
is  all  liars,  that's  what  they  are." 

Liquor  had  been  freely  drunk  and  the  excitment  ran 
high.  Several  of  the  rougher  spirits,  always  ready  for  a 
fight,  cried : 

"  Let  yourself  in  now,  Pete,  and  show  your  spunk 
once." 

Ad  Sparger,  who  always  adopted  the  course  of  action 
he  thought  most  likely  to  procure  him  a  drmk  of  his 
favorite  beverage,  now  bethought  himself  of  the  pan- 
acea as  the  best  thing  to  bring  into  requisition  to  settle 
the  difficulty. 

"  Both  are  right,"  said  he  pushmg  into  the  crowd ; 
"  it'  s  only  a  misimderstanding.  —  Let's  di'ink  one,  doc- 
tor." 

"  Pete,  it's  easy  to  say  '  liar  '  when  you're  cornered," 
said  Heifer,  not  heeding  Sparger,"  and  you're  not  worth 
answering,  but  I  will  say,  you  people,  that  any  man  who 
talks  about  the  President  as  Pete  Prantman  has  done 
here  to-night  and  glories  in  the  defeat  of  the  army  of  his 
country  is  a  coward;  and  I  say  more,"  he  continued  in 
a  louder  tone  as  Pete  and  his  satellite  came  tlu-eateningly 
near,  —  "  that  the  government  will  recover  from  this 
blow  and  that  Pete  and  traitors  like  him  will  soon  feel 
its  power  if  they  don't  look  out,  mind  that  now." 

"  And  I  say,  if  you  mean  me,"  exclaimed  Zellon  doub- 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  71 

ling  his  fist,  "  that  there  is  two  parties  to  this  here  thmg, 
and  some  others  may  feel  something  they  won't  like  too, 
the  devil  take  it !  " 

"  You're  right,  Zellon,"  answered  the  doctor,  unmoved 
by  the  ruffian's  threatening  looks  and  gestures,  "  and 
I'm  inclined  to  think  you'll  be  one  of  them.  I've  seen 
the  man  who  brought  the  news  of  the  battle.  His  name 
is  Leonine,  and  he  says  that  by  to-morrow  there  vdll  be 
orders  from  Washington  for  every  able-bodied  man  to 
be  ready  to  march  at  short  notice." 

"  Donnerwetter  !  "  exclaimed  Pete,  starting  and  turn- 
ing pale. 

"  We  ain't  going  to  do  it  for  no  nigger  President," 
shouted  Zellon. 

"  That's  so,"  came  from  all  parts  of  the  room. 

"  Ho  I  you  Zellon  may  sometimes  be  able  to  bully  a 
crowd,  but  it  will  be  worth  your  while,  and  every  other 
man's  to  think  twice,  or  even  three  times  before  you 
defy  the  government." 

"  Doctor  Heifer,  you'd  better  go  home,"  said  a  respect- 
able middle-aged  farmer  by  the  name  of  Schlapphammel. 
"  I  advise  you  as  a  friend.  I  dont  want  you  to  get 
hurt." 

Schlapphammel  had  thus  far  taken  no  part  in  the 
controversy,  and  he  came  close  up  to  the  doctor  and 
spoke  in  a  low,  cahn  voice.  But  Heifer's  blood  was  up 
and  he  was  about  to  answer  excitedly  when,  perhaps 
fortimately  for  him,  a  buggy  drove  rapidly  up  to  the 
hitching-post  before  the  door,  and  a  moment  later  Squii-e 


72  ENEMIES   EST   THE   EEAR  ; 

Zwelspringer  walked  into  the  bar-room.  The  squire 
was  the  village  Justice  of  the  Peace,  a  very  cautious, 
conservative  citizen,  who  in  politics  was  inclined  to  be 
neutral  and,  as  fi-equently  happens  in  such  cases,  by  his 
neutrality  sometimes  fell  into  the  very  difficulties  he 
wished  to  avoid  thereby. 

"  Any  news,  squire  ?  "  asked  the  chorus. 

"  Yes,  much-;  and  some  might  call  it  bad  news,"  he 
slowly  answered,  as  if  afraid  he  might  commit  himself. 
"  I  just  came  from  Reading,  and  there  is  great  excite- 
ment, for  news  has  come  of  a  great  battle  at  Manassas 
Junction." 

"  So  we've  heard  ;  tell  us  how  it  was,"  demanded  the 
crowd  eagerly. 

"  From  all  accounts  the  Northern  army  was  badly 
defeated,  but  owing  to  the  presence  of  a  few  regunents 
of  regular  troops  a  stand  was  made  and  the  Southern 
army  was  not  able  to  follow  up  its  advantage.  Wash- 
ington is  safe  enough,  but  the  last  thing  I  heard  was 
that  by  to-morrow  officers  would  be  around  to  force  all 
able-bodied  men  into  the  army." 

"  Did  you  hear  that,  clean  down  ?  "  asked  Pete  Prant- 
man  anxiously  pressing  up  to  Zwelspringer. 

"  Certainly,"  answered  the  squire  smiling  at  Pete's 
evident  fear,  and  it  is  possible  that  he  merely  played  on 
the  fellow's  cowardice  when  he  added  —  "  and  I  heard 
an  officer  say  that  any  man  heard  talking  against  the 
President  or  the  government  would  be  put  in  jail  and 
fined  one  thousand  dollars." 


OR,      A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE  SQUARED.  73 

Doctor  HeKei'  listened  with  keen  attention  while  the 
squire  spoke. 

"  Zellon,  remember  what  I  told  you,"  said  he  with  a 
triumphant  air. 

"  I  don't  believe  a  word  of  it :  but  anyhow  if  it's  true, 
I  know  a  thing  or  two,"  answered  Jake,  but  in  a  far  less 
belligerent  manner. 

"  One  had  better  be  careful  in  these  times,"  said 
Zweispringer  as  he  called  for  a  glass  of  sarsaparilla,  eyed 
wistfully  the  while  by  Sparger.  "  I  was  told  that  men 
were  enlisting  by  the  hundred  at  Reading,  «and  I  met 
Yankee  Chetwynde  who  said  his  son  Clint  and  Charlie 
Ruthvon  were  going  too,  and  that  it  is  reported  that 
Tom  Hartnagel  was  killed  in  the  fight  yesterday  but  not 
before  he  had  shot  down  the  colonel  of  a  Southern 
regiment." 

"  You  don't  say  !  Tom  Hartnagel  dead  ?  Poor, 
brave  Tom  !  "  exclaimed  Doctor  Heifer. 

"  By  my  sex,"  said  Davy  Rauhzahn,  unable  to  repress 
his  anger  and  grief,  "he  was  worth  a  hundred  Pete 
Prantmans,"  and  the  lad  burst  into  a  passionate  flood  of 
tears. 

"  Don't  you  dare,  you  coward,"  said  HeKer  hastily 
interposing  as  Pete  rushed  up  to  Da-s^^ ;  "he  speaks  the 
truth  and  I  take  it  up,  and  when  such  news  comes  I'm 
in  no  mood  for  fooling,  mind  now,  Pete." 

"  You  people,  this  is  no  time  for  quarreling,"  said  the 
squire  stepping  between  the  two  men  just  as  Pete  lifted 
his  fist  to  strike  the    doctor;  "trouble   has    come  and 


74  ENEMIES    IX    THE   REAR  ; 

more  is  coming.  —  Don't,  Pete !  be  quiet,  Doctor 
Heifer!  —  If  I'm  not  wrong  to-morrow  we'll  see  in  this 
very  township  some  things  we  never  saw  before.  Like 
good  citizens  it  seems  to  me  we'd  better  all  go  home 
now." 

You're  right  too,  squire,"  said  Sparger  giving  his 
weak  wink  laboriously,  "but  before  we  go  let's  drmk 
one ! " 

But  no  one  was  ready  to  stand  treat  and  Ad's  appeal 
was  agam  unheeded.  The  shadow  of  the  yet  strong  arm 
of  the  go-^ernment  seemed  all  at  once  to  have  fallen  on 
the  company,  the  clamor  and  noise  were  hushed,  and 
within  ten  minutes  after  the  squire  had  spoken,  the  last 
man  left  the  room. 

Pete  Prantman  was  still  angry  and  in  his  heart 
vowed  vengance  upon  Doctor  HeKer  and  Davy  Rauh- 
zahn.  Yet  he  felt  glad  too  as  he  and  Zellon  left  the 
tavern.  Charles  Ruthvon  was  going  to  war !  How  he 
exulted  over  that.  His  excited  fancy,  ordinarily  slow 
and  dull,  called  up  indeed  the  image  of  the  officer  who 
might  come  to-morrow,  but  this  was  quickly 'blotted  out 
by  the  stronger  picture  in  which  his  old  school-mate  lay 
dead  among  heaps  of  slam  on  the  field  of  battle. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE  country's  CALL  FOR  HELP. 

The  North  was  shocked  at  the  news  from  Bvill  Ruii, 
but  it  was  not  disheartened.  In  many  Northern  homes 
were  pale  cheeks  and  sad  hearts  on  the  day  when  the 
ominous  tidings  came  from  the  capital,  but  stern  resolves 
were  formed  that  boded  ill  to  the  hosts  of  treason,  and 
would  brmg  to  remembrance  the  warning  of  Doctor 
HeHer. 

Jabez  Chet^vynde  came  home  from  Reading  this 
Monday  night  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  has  fought 
and  been  whipped  but  is  ready  to  renew  the  encounter. 
His  family  sat  on  the  stoop  in  the  moonlight  awaiting 
his  coming.  As  if  danger  lurked  outside,  he  at  once 
requested  them  to  go  into  the  sittmg-room. 

"Bad  news  ;  our  troops  have  been  defeated,"  he  said 
laconically  as  soon  as  all  were  within  doors,  and  then 
related  what  he  knew.  Rising  and  rapidly  walking  the 
floor,  he  continued :  "  It  will  turn  out  for  the  best  yet. 
We  have  underestimated  the  strength  of  the  South,  as 
they  have  ours  ;  the  contest  will  be  prolonged  by  this 
defeat,  but  treason  must  die,  and  slavery  with  it. — 
Here,  Clinton,  my  son,  come  here.'' 

Mr.  Chetwynde  had  stopped  Avalking  now  and  stood 
by  the  table  where  the  lamp  Avas.      Clinton  went  up  to 


76  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAE  ; 

him  not  understanding  what  was  to  follow.  Laying  his 
right  hand  on  his  son's  head,  the  father  said  with  a  voice 
that  faltered  at  first :  "  You  are  our  first  born,  well- 
beloved,  but  our  country  calls  for  help.  I  here  dedicate 
you  to  her  service,  and  may  the  God  of  battles  keep  you 
in  safety." 

"  And  may  a  mother's  blessmg  rest  upon  you !  " 
added  Mrs.  Chetwynde  embracmg  Clinton  and  weeping 
on  his  shoulder.  After  a  moment  she  went  on  firmly  : 
"  The  Nation  founded  by  those  who  were  borne  hither 
by  that  vessel "  —  pomting  to  a  picture  of  the  May- 
flower, — "  the  blood  of  one  of  whom  flows  in  your 
veins,  must  not  perish,  my  son.  God  will  brmg  you 
back  to  us  ;   if  not.  His  will  be  done." 

Blanche  wept  silently  during  this  scene,  and  Frank, 
not  fully  comprehending  its  nature,  looked  on  in  quiet 
wonder.  Clmton  was  deeply  affected  ;  he  felt  that  in  a 
sense  the  honor  of  the  family  was  entrusted  to  him. 

"  Father,"  said  he,  proudly,  yet  vdth  a  tinge  of  boyish 
sadness  —  for  after  all  he  was  yet  a  boy, —  "  I  will  try 
to  do  my  duty ;  and  if  I  should  not  get  back  and  see 
you  and  mother  and  Blanche  —  and  —  and  —  Fr  "  — 
the  boy  was  stronger  than  the  man,  and  the  tears  that 
came  disowned  the  rest  of  the  sentence. 

"  And,  Clinton,  you  will  have  good  company,"  said 
Mr.  Chetwynde  after  a  short  pause  in  which  he  subdued 
his  emotion. 

"  Is  Charlie  Ruthvon  going  ?  "  asked  Clinton  eagerly. 

"  He  is  ;   I  met  him  to-night  on  my  way  home  and  he 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  77 

told  me  he  was  going  to  enlist  in  a  Reading  company 
next  Saturday,  if  lie  could  get  ready  in  time.  He'll 
be  over  to-morrow." 

"  He  was  twenty-one  yesterday  and  needn't  ask  his 
father's  consent  any  more,  and  I'm  so  glad  he's  going," 
said  Clinton  gleefully,  his  tears  all  gone. 

"I  wonder  what  his  father  will  say,"  said  Blanche 
hastily,  and  then,  recollecting  herself,  blushed  scarlet. 

"He's  more  stubborn  than  ever,  child,"  replied  her 
father  not  seeming  to  notice  her  confusion.  "  If  Charlie 
enlists,  he  will  incur  his  father's  deep  displeasure.  Mr. 
Ruth  von  said  so  to  Doctor  Heifer  last  week." 

"  Oh,  he's  a  Dutch  Bourbon  and  can't  learn  anything 
new,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Chetwjmde  indignantly. 

"  Yes,  as  the  doctor  tells  me,  he's  more  bitter  toward 
us  than  ever,"  said  Jabez ;  "  he  says  we've  led  his  son 
wi'ong  and  broken  up  the  happiness  of  his  home.  He 
blames  all  of  us  as  having  a  share  in  it." 

"  Serious  charges,  truly,"  answered  his  wife,  "  but 
instead  he  ought  to  be  proud  of  his  son's  patriotism,  and 
thank  us  for  helping  him  mto  the  right  way." 

"  I  fear  he'll  never  forgive  us,"  said  Mr.  Chetwynde. 
—  "  And,  by  the  way,  I  heard  too  that  Martin  Hart- 
nagel's  son  Tom  —  his  that  lives  up  near  the  forge  — 
is  among  the  wounded  or  dead." 

"  The  fellow  who  took  Frank's  part  last  spring,  you 
remember,  agamst  Pete  Prantman  at  the  tavern  — 
wasn't  it  Frank  ?  "  exclaimed  Clinton. 

"  The  country  can't  spare  such  brave  young  men  as 


78  ENEMIES   EST  THE   BEAR; 

Tom  Hartnagel  at  this  time,  and  I  do  hope  the  report  is 
not  true,"  said  Mr.  Chetwynde. 

"  And  Charhe  says  that  Tom  is  engaged  to  Sallie 
Yonneida,"  said  Blanche.     "  Poor  Sallie  !  " 

"  Yes,  and  Pete  Prantman  said  he  wished  Tom  would 
be  killed,"  said  Clmton,  "  as  all  abolition  soldiers  ought 
to  be." 

Could  they  have  seen  the  two  figures  that  awhile 
later  passed  along  the  highway  in  front  of  the  house  — 
the  lowering  faces  and  the  fists  shaken  tlii-eateningly 
toward  the  dwelling  ;  —  could  they  have  heard  one  voice 
say,  "  We'll  make  it  hot  now  for  the  black  Yankee," 
and  a  second  voice  reply,  "  Hush,  Jake,  not  yet ;  I'll  see 
his  proud  daughter  once  more,  and  if  she  don't  come 
around,  then  we'll  settle  with  him  for  his  impudence 
and  make  him  wish  he  was  in  'Neticut  and  hadn't  left 
it," —  they  might  not  have  gone  to  their  repose  quite  as 
calmly  as  they  did. 

On  this  same  Monday  evening  Charles  Ruthvon  re- 
turned home  late  from  Reading  whither  he  had  gone  on 
an  errand  for  his  father.  All  the  family  had  retired 
except  Sallie  Yonneida,  who  sat  in  the  kitchen  preparing 
vegetables  for  next  day.  With  the  freedom  allowed 
hired  help  in  Pennsylvania  Dutch  agricultural  commmi- 
ities,  Sallie  was  not  long  asking  the  young  man  for  the 
latest  war  news, —  somethmg  in  which  she  was  deeply 
interested. 

"  Well,  Sallie,  it  isn't  very  good  news  I  have  heard 
to-day,"  said  he  gravely  in  response  to  her  question. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN  CERCLE  SQUARED.  79 

"  Is  that  so  ?  "  she  said  stoppmg  in  her  work. 

*'  Yes,  Sallie ;  a  good  many  poor  fellows  who  were 
strong  and  hearty  yesterday  are  dead  to-night,  and  many 
others  are  in  agony." 

"  Has  there  been  another  battle?"  she  asked  hastily. 

"Yes,  Sallie,  there  has  been,"  answered  Charles 
gently,  "and  our  army  was  not  as  fortunate  as  at 
Romney,  where  Tom  Hartnagel  distinguished  himself." 

Sallie 's  senses  were  very  acute  now. 

"But  Tom's  time  expired  last  Saturday, 'the  20th,  for 
he  was  one  of  the  first  that  went  to  war,"  she  said  speak- 
ing rapidly  and  looking  closely  at  Charles ;  "  and  so  he 
was  not  in  this  fight.     How  was  it  anyhow?  " 

"  Tom  didn't  insist  on  being  discharged  because  his 
time  was  out,  like  some  of  the  rest ;  he  is  too  brave  for 
that.  He  remamed ;  at  any  rate  —  Sallie,  I  might  as 
well  tell  you  "  — 

"Charlie  Ruthvon,  is  Tom  Hartnagel  dead?"  said 
she  with  startling  energy  rismg  from  her  chair  and  spill- 
ing the  vegetables  over  the  iloor. 

"  His  name  is  on  the  list  of  the  wounded,  for  I  saw  it 
myself,  but  in  the  confusion  of  such  a  rout  as  our  army 
met  with  yesterday  it  would  be  very  easy  to  make 
mistakes,  and  so  you  know  it  may  not  be  correct  at 
all." 

"  Poor  Tom,  poor  Tom,  poor  Tom ! "  cried  the 
stricken  girl  sinking  into  her  chair  again,  her  voice  ris- 
ing higher  and  becoming  shriller  at  each  repetition  af 
her  lover's  name. 


80  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR  ; 

"  Hush !  you  will  wake  up  the  folks,  and  besides  Tom 
is  not  dead,  Sallie,  and  may  not  be  wounded  even." 

But,  like  Rachel  of  old,  Sallie  Vonneida  would  not  be 
comforted,  but  contmued  to  cry,  "  Poor  Tom,  poor  Tom, 
poor  Tom !  " 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ruthvon,  aroused  by  the  noise,  pres- 
ently came  into  the  kitchen  and  Charles  explained  the 
cause  of  Miss  Vonneida's  lamentation. 

"  So  it  goes,  so  it  goes,"  said  Mr.  Ruthvon  dolefully ; 
"  blood,  death,  sorrow  —  all  because  men  refuse  to  regard 
the  Constitution  of  the  land.  What  a  load  Abe  Lincoln 
will  have  to  carry  at  the  Youngest  Day !  "  * 

Grandmother  Ruthvon  was  also  awakened  from  her 
sleep  by  Sallie's  clamor,  and  at  this  point  came  hobbling 
out  of  her  kammer  into  the  kitchen.  She  of  course  did 
not  know  what  had  occurred,  but  as  Sallie  was  lament- 
ing, it  must  be  something  bad,  and  that  was  enough. 

"  I  kneAv  something  awful  would  happen,"  she  began, 
"for  last  night  I  dreamed  I  was  crossing  a  broad, 
swollen  stream  of  dark  water  on  a  white  horse,  and  that's 
a  sure  sign,  especially  when  the  water  gets  too  deep.  I 
had  the  same  di-eam  eleven  years  ago,  just  before  the 
big  Schuylkill  flood  of  '50,  and  again  a  year  later  when 
the  seventeen-year  locusts  came  ;  and  two  years  ago  I 
was  right  in  the  middle  of  the  very  same  dream  when 
you  called  me  and  said  the  moon  was  getting  black  !  It 
never  misses,  never." 

On  this  occasion  it  required  all  the  patience  the  fam- 

*Day  of  Judgment. 


OR,    A    GOLDEX   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  81 

ily  possessed  to  pay  the  usual  deference  to  the  old  lady, 
for  every  heart  was  full. 

"Do  you  think  Tom  Avill  be  sent  home?"  queried 
SaHie  as  soon  as  she  had  spoken  the  last  word. 
*  "  No ;  most  likely  he  is  in  some  hospital,"  answered 
Charles.  "  I  will  Avrite  to  the  head  surgeon  at  Washing- 
ton and  we  may  soon  hear. —  Be  patient,"  he  continued 
as  she  wept  afresh,  "  all  will  come  out  right  yet." 

"  And  there  is  that  thick-headed  Pete  Prantman  said 
he  wished  Tom  would  be  killed,"  said  Sallie,  her  eyes 
flashing  in  spite  of  her  tears  as  she  looked  from  one 
to  another  ;  "  just  wait  —  I  shall  have  something  to  say 
to  the  big  heart-coward,  by  my  sex !  —  And  his  sister 
Ret  as  good  as  said  to  me  that  you  was  lookmg  her 
way,  and  Fd  see  that  you  was." 

Even  Mr.  Ruthvon  could  not  help  smiling  at  Sallie's 
earnestness. 

"  Oh,  fie,  fie,  Sallie,"  said  Charles  laughing  in  spite  of 
his  vexation ;  "  Avhen  you  see  the  Mohammedan's  sign 
of  the  Youngest  Day,  then  you  may  see  me  looking  that 
way,  but  not  before  then." 

It  must  be  reluctantly  recorded  that  Miss  Vonneida 
did  not  like  Miss  Prantman,  and  even  in  her  sorrow  she 
was  eager  to  secure  the  means  of  vexing  the  latter. 

"  But  I  don't  know  what  that  sign  is  ;  tell  me  once, 
so  that  I  can  look  out  for  it,"  she  said. 

"  The  sure  sign  of  the  Youngest  Day  is  this,"  inter- 
rupted grandmother :  —  "  the  chickens  all  go  to  roost  at 
nme  o'clock  m  the  mornmg,  and  at  the  same  hour  the 


82  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR  ; 

COWS  will  come  running  home  from  the  pasture  to  be 
milked." 

"  A  very  good  sign,  grandmother,"  said  Charles,  "•  for 
darkness  will  probably  precede  its  coming,  but  it  is  not 
the  Mohammedan's  sign.  According  to  his  belief  the 
sun  will  rise  in  the  west  on  the  morning  of  that  day." 

''  Judgment  will  come  on  Pete  Prantman  a  good 
while  before  that  happens,  if  I  ain't  wrong,"  said  Miss 
Vonneida  viciously. 

"  Children,  it  is  very  late  now,"  said  Mrs.  Ruthvon  ; 
"  let  us  all  go  to  bed  and  put  away  these  troubles  until 
a  new  day  comes.  The  dear  Lord  God  reigns  above  us 
and  He  will  watch  over  us  all." 

Next  morning  after  breakfast  Charles  had  another 
interview  with  his  parents  in  reference  to  his  enlisting. 
He  said  that  no  matter  which  side  was  at  fault,  the 
South  would  push  the  advantage  gamed  in  Sunday's 
battle,  that  in  consequence  the  whole  country  was  in 
danger,  and  that  it  was  the  first  duty  of  all  who  could 
to  help  remove  this  danger. 

"  But  let  them  who  brought  on  the  trouble  go  and  do 
the  fighting,"  objected  Mr.  Ruthvon. 

"•  It  has  very  often  happened  in  the  world's  history, 
that  those  who  had  the  very  least  to  do  with  bringing 
on  trouble,  were  obliged  to  do  most  of  the  fighting 
when  that  was  to  be  done,  and  it  may  be  so  in  this 
case,"  answered  Charles  pleasantly." 

''  It  would  be  a  blessing,"  responded  the  father,  "  if 
Abe  Lincoln  and  Seward  and  old  Simon  Cameron,  and 


OK,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  83 

maybe  Jefferson  Davis,  could  all  be  put  in  the  front 
ranks  when  the  next  fight  comes.  It  would  never  be 
fought,  and  the  war  would  be  over  right  away." 

"•  But  I  fear  we  must  take  tilings  as  they  are.  It  has 
become  a  matter  of  self-preservation,  and  mider  these 
circumstances  I  feel  that  I  ought  to  do  what  I  can.  I 
shall  enhst  as  soon  as  I  learn  that  more  troops  are 
wanted.  I  am  of  age  but  nevertheless  I  very  much 
want  your  approval." 

"  Oh,  Charlie,  Charlie,  don't  go  ;  you  will  be  killed 
in  this  awful  war,"  said  his  sister,  who  had  come  into 
the  room  during  the  conversation,  throwing  her  arms 
about  his  neck. 

"  But  our  country  calls,"  he  answered  with  emotion. 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  the  elder  Ruthvon,  "this  craziness 
destroys  all  brotherly  love  and  breaks  up  the  peace  of 
families.  —  Charles,"  he  continued  in  a  hoarse  voice, 
"  you  are  of  age,  as  you  say,  and  don't  need  my  consent 
now,  and  you  have  kept  your  promise  too,  I  must  say ; 
but  this  is  an  unholy  cause  and  if  you  go  into  the  aboli- 
tion army,  it  will  be  without  my  consent,  and  if  you 
should  be  crippled,  you  can  have  no  claim  on  me." 

"  The  comitry  will  take  care  of  its  soldiers,  and  " — 

"  Then  look  to  it,  and  not  to  me  if  you  come  home 
with  an  arm  or  a  leg  off,"  interrupted  his  father  angrily, 
and  left  the  room. 

"My  son,  if  go  you  must,  you  shall  at  least  go  with 
your  mother's  blessing,"  said  his  mother,  the  tears 
streaming  down  her  face. 


84  ENEMIES    IN    THE   EEAR  ; 

"  It's  too  bad,"  he  said  embracing  her  ;  '^  I  do  think 
that  if  I  were  enlisting  into  the  secession  army,  father 
■would  give  his  consent  freely." 

"  Oh,  no,  Charles,  not  that,"  she  responded ;  "  be 
patient :  your  father  loves  you,  and  it  will  all  come  right 
yet,  my  child." 

"  I  hope  it  will  not  be  too  late  then,"  he  replied 
sadly. 

Toward  noon  he  went  over  to  Mr.  Chetwynde's  house. 
Blanche  felt  embarrassed  when  she  saw  him,  for  she  felt 
sure  that  her  lover  would  again  urge  his  suit  now  that 
he  was  going  to  the  wars.  Yet  in  view  of  Charles' 
failure  to  meet  her  condition  of  accepting  his  proposal 
only  three  months  ago,  and  of  what  her  father  had  last 
night  said  regarding  Frederick  Ruth  von"  s  opinion  of 
their  family,  she  was  more  firmly  resolved  than  ever  not 
to  bmd  herself  irrevocably  to  Charles,  even  though  her 
heart  broke.  It  was  clear  to  her  that  consent  to  his 
wishes  would,  under  the  circumstances,  be  doing  a 
wrong  to  herself  and  to  his  parents  and  taking  an  unjust 
advantage  of  his  love.  In  this  resolution  her  parents, 
whom,  in  view  of  what  would  probably  occur,  she  had 
that  morning  consulted,  entirely  agreed  with  her. 

She  was  not  wrong  in  her  surmises  regarding  Charles' 
intentions,  for  after  some  conversation  with  the  family 
he  asked  for  an  interview  with  her.  He  pleaded  his 
cause  as  only  a  true  lover  can,  but  was  unable  to  shake 
her  resolution.  He  returned  home  sad  and  almost  reck- 
less.    He  felt  that  Blanche  was  cruel  and  unreasonable. 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIKCLE   SQUARED.  85 

But,  in  accordance  with  her  request,  he  resolved  to  con- 
sider her  objections  once  more  and  soon  became  master 
of  himself  again. 

The  July  acts  of  Congress  regarding  the  enrollment 
of  troops  were  now  promulgated  and  in  every  large  city 
of  the  North  the  recruiting  offices  were  besieged  by  men 
and  youth  ready  to  volunteer  for  the  defence  of  the 
country.  At  one  of  these,  in  the  city  of  Reading, 
Charles  Ruthvon  and  Clinton  Chet^vynde  presented 
themselves,  the  latter  armed  with  a  letter  from  his 
father  written  in  a  bold  hand,  giving  hearty  consent  to 
the  enlistment  of  his  son.  Both  were  duly  accepted  as 
volunteers  in  the  — rd  regiment  Pennsylvania  infantry 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  Not  alone,  how- 
ever, did  they  go  forth.  Through  their  influence  and 
that  of  Jabez  Chetwynde  two  other  brave  lads  from 
that  neighborhood  also  donned  the  blue  and  entered  the 
same  company. 

The  young  volunteers  were  given  a  fmdough  of  five 
days  before  beginning  active  duty.  These  they  spent  in 
making  final  preparations  for  a  long  absence.  Charles 
had  several  interviews  with  Blanche,  and  though  he 
again  sought  to  win  a  promise  from  her  to  be  his  wife  on 
his  return  from  the  war  regardless  of  his  father's  wishes 
and  dislikes,  she  remained  firm.  She  was  very  sad  when 
he  said  his  final  good-bye,  but  was  quite  sure  it  was  bet- 
ter so  than  to  do  what  conscience  would  not  approve. 

Clinton  bore  up  under  the  trying  ordeal  of  parting 
from  the  loved  ones  like  the  brave  lad  he  was. 


86  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR  ; 

"  I  reckon,  mother,  we'll  all  be  home  by  Christmas," 
said  he  trying  to  laugh.  He  made  a  special  visit  to 
Squire  Zweispringer's  house  to  say  good-bye  to  Susie. 

A  motley  crowd  gathered  at  the  Haltfest  depot  that 
early  August  evening  when  the  four  volunteers  took  the 
train  for  Philadelphia  to  join  their  regiment.  A  few 
wished  them  well  and  gave  them  a  hearty  "  God  bless 
you  !  "     Among  these  of  course  was  Doctor  Heifer. 

"  Ho  !  "  he  exclaimed,  not  without  a  suspicious  mois- 
ture in  his  eyes  notwithstanding  his  assumed  brusque- 
ness,  "  any  one  of  you  can  whip  two  rebels  any  day  in 
the  week  including  Sunday,  even  if  they  do  their  dirty 
best,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  every  one  of  you  will 
come  back  with  shoulder-straps  !  " 

Even  Dan  Baltzer  had  a  kind  word  for  them. 

"  When  you  come  back,  boys,"  said  he  aside  in  a  sort 
of  hoarse  whisper,  "  come  around  to  '  The  People's 
Hotel '  and  make  yourselves  at  home." 

Squire  Zweispringer  was  also  on  hand. 

"  I  advise  you,  young  men,"  were  his  parting  words, 
"to  take  care  of  yourselves  and  not  get  into  trouble. 
Mind  your  own  business  and  keep  out  of  danger." 

Ad  Sparger  seconded  this  sage  counsel  by  telling 
them  always  to  "Drink  one  "  when  invited,  even  if  the 
invitation  came  from  a  rebel.  "  For  I've  been  told,"  he 
went  on  "  that  they  make  famous  whiskey  in  the 
South." 

Most  of  the  people,  however,  said  nothing  at  all  to 
the  brave  boys.     They  looked  upon  their  enlistment  as 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  87 

a  piece  of  foolishness  at  the  very  best.  Pete  Prantman 
and  Jake  Zellon  stood  on  the  edge  of  the  depot  plat- 
form, looked  at  them  askance  and  every  now  and  then 
whispered  to  each  other  and  laughed.  Presently  the 
train  rushed  around  the  curve  in  the  cut  above  and  was 
at  the  station  ;  a  moment  later  Charles  Ruthvon  and  his 
gallant  comrades  were  speeding  on  their  way  to  the 
defence  of  their  country's  flag,  leaving  behind  them 
many  sad  hearts  in  the  dark  and  dismal  night. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

PETE   PRANTMAN    WOOES,    BUT    FAILS   TO    WIN. 

A  short  mile  southwest  of  Mi-.  Chetwynde's  house, 
near  the  road  running  along  the  foot  of  the  South 
Mountain,  lived  Hans  Prantman,  a  well-to-do  farmer 
who  had  emigrated  from  Northampton  county  in  1831, 
and  settled  on  the  farm  he  now  owned  and  occupied. 
He  was  intensely  selfish.  His  selfishness  was  equaled 
only  by  his  ignorance  and  superstition,  and  surpassed 
alone  by  his  prejudices  and  dislikes.  He  was  a  strong 
pro-slavery  man,  but  unable  to  give  a  single  reason 
for  the  fact  beyond  the  very  othodox  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  one,  that  his  father  had  been  a  pro-slavery 
man. 

When  the  war  broke  out  his  utterances  were  simply 
treasonable.  He  gave  comfort  to  the  enemy  and  had 
there  been  opportunity,  he  probably  would  have  given  a 
little  aid  too,  provided  by  so  domg  he  could  have  spited 
an  Abolitionist.  He  would  have  turned  a  distressed 
Union  soldier  from  his  door  as  he  would  a  strange  dog 
and  gloried  in  the  act.  Where  an  increased  tax-rate  was 
concerned  his  country's  honor  counted  for  nothing.  He 
wanted  good  markets  ;  the  country  might  take  care  of 
itself  for  him. 

He  hated  Yankee  Chetwynde  with  a  perfect  hatred ; 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  89 

neither  did  he  like  Frederick  Ruthvon  for  the  latter  had 
bought  a  piano  for  his  children. 

'^  Let  once  a  piano  get  into  a  house,"  said  he  to  Chris- 
tian Mehlhuber,  the  miller,  one  day,  "  and  then  every- 
thing goes  to  the  ground.  The  girls  won't  feed  a  pig, 
nor  work  on  the  field  m  haymaking  and  harvest  any 
more,  and  think  themselves  even  above  milking  a  cow 
■ —  go  away  now  once  !  A  piano  shouldn't  be  allowed  to 
come  into  a  Pennsylvania  Dutch  house  but  be  left  to  the 
black  Yankees." 

This  likely  citizen  had  three  children,  and  had  also 
—  strange  to  say !  —  adopted  the  only  son  of  a  neighbor 
who  had  met  a  violent  death  some  years  before.  Amos 
was  about  thirty  years  old,  inoffensive  and  weak-minded. 
Pete  —  ''  My  Pete,"  as  his  father  often  called  him  when 
speaking  of  hun  —  was  twenty-one,  and  their  sister  Mar- 
garet, or  Ret,  as  she  was  commonly  named,  was  four 
years  older  than  Pete  and,  if  that  were  possible,  more 
vicious  than  he  by  that  much.  The  foster  son  retained 
his  father's  name  of  Fetzer  and  was  a  little  younger 
than  Pete. 

From  the  very  first  there  was  a  lack  of  congeniality 
between  Charles  Ruthvon  and  Pete  Prantman,  who, 
except  in  physical  courage,  was  his  father  over  agam. 
As  boys  they  both  attended  the  district  school  situated 
midway  between  their  homes.  Charles  was  timid,  re- 
tu'ing  and  generous  ;  Pete  was  a  great  overgrown  boorish 
lad,  and  soon  became  the  tyrant  of  the  school.  To 
Charles  he  had  a  special  aversion,  for  the  former  was 


90  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAR ; 

quick  to  learn  English  and  in  all  his  classes,  save  only  men- 
tal arithmetic,  which  about  that  period  was  the  great 
hobby  in  the  common  schools  of  Pennsylvania,  stood  far 
above  Pete.  Growing  out  of  the  effects  of  his  ilhiess, 
Charles  began  to  resist  yoimg  Prantman's  tyranny,  and 
one  day  when  the  bully  was  unusually  vicious,  he  fell 
upon  the  latter  suddenly,  sent  him  to  the  ground  and 
beat  him  until  he  cried  for  mercy^  to  the  great  delight  of 
all  the  smaller  boys  and  girls.  Pete's  power  was  broken 
and  he  became  a  laughing-stock,  but  his  dislike  for  his 
school-mate  suddenly  began  to  grow  into  undisguised 
hate. 

After  the  Chetwyndes  had  been  in  the  neighborhood  a 
number  of  years  a  new  element  was  added  to  the  discord 
between  the  boys.  For  though  Pete  was  taught  by  pre- 
cept and  example  to  hate  the  Yankees,  yet  Blanche  Chet- 
wynde  had  that  in  her  face  and  manner  which  attracted 
the  rude  fellow  ;  and  after  awhile  he  discovered  too  that 
her  father  had  broad  acres.  It  was  natural  for  her  to 
favor  Charles  and  avoid  Pete,  but  the  latter  could  not 
understand  it  at  all ;  and  when  the  friendship  between 
her  and  Charles  manifestly  grew  warmer  and  her  aver- 
sion for  himself  more  marked,  he  resolved  that  in  some 
way  his  successful  rival  in  study  and  love  should  be 
made  to  feel  his  vengeance.  Hence  he  secretly  exulted 
on  the  night  when  young  Ruthvon  and  his  comrades  left 
for  the  army.  What  was  now  to  hinder  him  from  push- 
ing his  designs  in  reference  to  Blanche,  or  from  gratify- 
ing his  malice  in  case  she  rejected  him  ? 


OR,  A   GOLDEN"  CIECLE   SQUARED.  91 

That  he  hoped  to  win  the  gu-1,  knowing  her  dislike, 
can  be  explained  only  on  the  ground  that  he  gauged 
others  largely  by  himself  and  had  no  understanding  of 
the  heart  of  a  refined  young  woman.  He  harbored  a 
hazy  notion  that  perhaps  after  all  Charles  Ruthvon  was 
not  entrenched  in  Blanche's  affections,  that  judging 
from  the  abject  manner  in  which  the  younger  boys  used 
to  court  his  favor  at  school,  fear  would  go  a  great  way 
and  that. a  sudden  onslaught,  backed  by  ample  promises, 
would  probably  carry  the  day. 

He  now  watched  every  opportunity  to  secure  a  pri- 
vate mterview  with  Blanche.  He  went  to  church  regu- 
larly every  Sunday  on  which  services  were  held,  loitered 
in  the  roads  and  lanes  in  the  vicinity  of  her  home  and 
even  ventured  to  the  house  on  pretended  errands  several 
times.  But  for  many  weeks  he  was  misuccessful.  How- 
ever, late  in  October,  near  the  close  of  a  beautiful  day, 
Blanche  strolled  down  the  lane  to  the  old  oak  tree,  now 
so  dear  to  her  because  of  its  associations.  She  had  come 
hither  often  since  Charles  went  away,  but  usually  her 
brother  Frank  was  with  her  or  hovering  near  at  hand. 
This  evening  she  was  alone,  and  as  she  stood  under  the 
tree  thinking  of  her  absent  lover  and  wrestlmg  with 
doubts  that  she  had  believed  were  settled  forever,  sud- 
denly Pete  Prantman  appeared  before  her. 

She  was  somewhat  alarmed  and  her  first  impulse  was 
to  call  for  Frank  and  run  up  the  lane,  but  a  hasty  second 
thought  made  her  resolve  to  stand  her  ground  and  ap- 
pear as  calm  as  possible. 


92  ENEMIES   DT  THE  KEAE  ; 

Pete  had  on  a  coat  —  unusual  for  him.  It  was  of 
blue  jean  and  had  long  tails  ;  his  pantaloons,  of  the 
same  materials,  were  much  too  short,  and  his  shoes  very- 
large  and  heavy.  On  his  head  was  his  last  summer's 
straw  hat,  at  the  extreme  end  of  its  usefuhiess,  and 
on  his  face  a  mixture  of  shame,  fear  and  insolence. 

"  Good  evening,"  he  said  after  starmg  at  Blanche 
a  moment,  with  a  smile  which  he  meant  to  be  very- 
gracious,  but  which  made  his  countenance  more  for- 
bidding than  usual. 

"  Good  evening,  Mr.  Prantman,"  she  responded  -with- 
out moving. 

"  Call  me  Pete,  or  Peter.  We  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
doesn't  like  to  be  called  '  mister.'     It's  too  proud." 

"  But  I've  been  taught  that  it  is  not  polite  to  call 
people  by  their  first  names,  unless  one  is  somewhat 
familiar  -with  them,  and  we  are  no  longer  school 
children." 

"  Yes,  but  you're  among  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch,  and 
ought  to  do  as  them ;  besides  we  went  to  school  together 
and  are  bad .  good  acquainted,  ain't  we  are  ?  —  Say, 
Blanche,"  he  continued,  coming  close  up  to  her,  "  do 
you  know  my  pap  is  bad  rich  ?  " 

"  It  may  be  so,  but  I  am  sure  your  father's  affairs  do 
not  concern  me." 

She  began  to  move  up  the  lane  slowly  while  speaking ; 
he  followed  her  closely. 

"  He  is  indeed  quite  bad  rich,"  he  persisted;  "he  has 
twenty  cows,  eleven  horses,   fifty-one  pigs,  and  lots  of 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  93 

money  besides  our  big  farm.  And  there  is  only  three 
children  and  Jim,  and  Amos  isn't  quite  right  and  pap 
won't  give  him  much,  and  Ret  is  a  girl  and  she'll  get 
only  a  small  share,  and  Jim'll  get  only  a  hundred  dollars, 
and  so  I,  Peter  Prantman,  will  get  it  'most  all.  —  Now 
Blanche,"  —  coming  closer  still  to  her  and  getting 
very  confidential  —  "-ii  I  had  you  for  my  wife,  I'd 
always  keep  a  girl,  at  least  in  summer,  to  do  all  the 
milking  and  feeding  the  pigs,  at  least  most  of  the  time, 
and  " 

"  Mr.  Prantman,  you  must  not  talk  to  me  so,"  ex- 
claimed Blanche  stopping  and  turning  on  him  indig- 
nantly ;  —  "  go  away,  and  don't  speak  to  me  again  in 
this  way  ;  you  have  no  right  to." 

"  No  right,"  he  said  angrily,  still  keeping  close  up  to 
her  as  she  now  walked  rapidly  onward ;  "  what's  to 
hinder  me,  huh  ?     Is  it  because  you  are  a  Yankee  ?  " 

''  Mr.  Prantman,  if  you  are  a  gentleman,  stop  speak- 
ing to  me;  it  is  very  unpleasant  to  me,"  she  said,  now 
thoroughly  frightened. 

"  But  I  ain't  a  gentleman.  I  am  a  Pennsylvania 
Dutchman,"  he  retorted. 

"That  shouldn't  hinder  you  from  being  a  gentleman," 
she  said  trying  to  gain  time ;  "  I'm  sure  most  Pennsyl- 
vania Germans  are." 

"  Especially  Charlie  Ruthvon  that's  now  gone  to 
fight  for  the  niggers,  huh?"  he  snarled.  "•  He  and  all 
these  fellows  will  now  get  made  dead  and  will  never 
come  back,  and  so  you  had  better  be  my  Avife." 


94  ENEMIES  IN   THE   REAR  ; 

As  he  uttered  the  last  sentence  he  laid  his  hand  on 
her  arm  and  stopped  her. 

"  Let  go  my  arm,  or  it  will  be  the  worse  for  you,"  she 
said  trembling  in  every  limb  with  fear  and  anger. 

"'  I  will  when  I'm  ready,"  he  replied,  wrinkling  up  his 
nose  and  showing  his  big  teeth  as  a  vicious  dog  might 
"but  I'm  not  " — 

Just  then  Frank  Chetwynde  and  Davy  Rauhzahn 
appeared  in  the  upper  end  of  the  lane.  Davy  had  with 
him  Doctor  Heifer's  dog,  a  black  Newfoundland  of  great 
size  bearing  the  pleasant  and  suggestive  name  of 
Schnapps,  and  endowed  with  canine  intelligence  far 
above  the  average.  The  sight  of  the  two  boys  and  the 
dog  gave  Blanche  intense  relief. 

"Frank,  Frank,  come  here  quick!"  she  called  with 
all  her  might. 

Frank  heard  her  and  came  on  the  run,  followed  by 
Davy  and  Schnapps.  When  Pete  saw  them  coming  he 
let  go  Blanche's  arm  but  stood  still  in  the  road,  while 
she  ran  to  meet  her  brother. 

"What's  the  matter,  Blanche?"  cried  the  latter. 
She  was  pale  and  too  excited  to  be  able  to  answer  at 
once. 

'•  What's  the  matter?"  he  repeated;  "  has  Prantman 
been  frightening  you?" 

"Yes,  he  spoke  very  insolently  to  me,"  she  said 
regaining  her  voice. 

Young  as  he  was  Frank  was  brave  as  a  soldier  and 
strong  for  his  age.      He  idolized  his  sister  and  instantly 


OK,     A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  95 

anger  and  resentment  controlled  him.  Without  hesitat- 
ing a  moment  or  calculating  the  odds  between  him  and 
his  burly  antagonist  he  ran  toward  Pete  as  fast  as  he 
could.  Picking  up  a  cobble-stone  as  he  went,  he  hurled 
it  at  Pete,  who  remained  standing  in  the  middle  of  the 
lane  leering  at  them,  and  as  it  chanced  hit  him  on  the 
left  leg  below  the  knee.  The  next  moment  he  threw 
himself  on  him  with  all  his  force.  The  stone  and 
Frank's  furious  charge  were  too  much  for  the  moment, 
and  Pete  measured  his  length  on  the  ground.  With  a 
yell  and  an  oath  he  sprung  to  his  feet,  seized  Frank, 
struck  him  a  blow  on  the  head  with  his  fist,  and  thrust 
him  violently  away.  The  brave  lad  was  dazed  for  a 
moment,  but  recovered  himself  and  was  about  to  renew 
the  unequal  conflict  when  a  new  champion  appeared  on 
the  field.  It  was  Schnapps,  of  Avhom  Davy  had  perfect 
control. 

'"  Stop,  Frank,"  cried  Davy  as  the  former  was  again 
rushing  upon  Pete  ;  "  Schnapps  has  a  word  to  say  now,  I 
think  ! " 

By  this  time  Blanche  returned ;  she  begged  the  boys 
to  come  away. 

"  He  has  insulted  you  and  must  make  it  good,"  said 
Davy  with  great  emphasis. 

There  they  were  in  the  lane  with  the  light  of  the  set- 
ting sun  falling  on  them.  On  one  side  stood  Frank, 
Davy,  Blanche  and  Schnapps,  the  last  ready  to  do  his 
master's  bidding  instantly ;  on  the  other  was  Pete,  who 
kept  his  eye  on  the  dog,  not  removing  it  even  for  an 


96  ENEMIES    IN    THE   REAB  ; 

instant  when  he  stooped,  as  he  frequently  did,  to  rub  the 
sore  spot  the  stone  had  made. 

Dogs  sometimes  have  an  instinctive  dislike  to  certain 
individuals.  Pete  and  Schnapps  had  never  been  friends. 
Schnapps  did  not  regard  Pete  as  a  good  citizen,  and  on 
several  occasions  had  manifested  a  decided  disposition  to 
be  actively  hostile.  Pete  remembered  this  and  knew  it 
would  be  unsafe  to  turn  his  back  and  run,  much  as  he 
was  inclined  to  do  so.  Hence  he  sullenly  stood  his 
ground.  But  Davy  Rauhzahn  quickly  brought  matters 
to  an  issue.  Believing  Pete  to  be  unarmed  and  know- 
ing him  to  be  a  coward,  he  felt  certain  they  were  more 
than  a  match  for  him. 

"Frank, —  just  a  moment,  Blanche,  and  we'll  all  go 
with  you, —  Frank,  what  must  he  do  ?  He  must  do 
what  you  say,  or  Fll  set  Schnapps  on  him,  and  you 
know,  Pete," — addressing  that  individual,  whose  teeth 
chattered  for  fear, —  "that  he'll  take  the  skin  off  you  in 
ninety  seconds,  clean  down  honest." 

"I'll  arrest  you  all  for  setting  a  dog  on  me,"  whim- 
pered Pete. 

"  Yes,  and  then  maybe  we'll  see  about  your  stopping 
people  against  their  will,  you  heart-coward,"  replied 
Davy  imitating  the  bully's  whining  tone.  "  What  must 
he  do,  Frank?  " 

"  He  must  get  down  on  his  knees  and  beg  Blanche's 
pardon,"  said  Frank. 

"  What  do  you  say,  Blanche  ? "  inquired  Davy 
further. 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  97 

"  Oh,  Frank  dear,  Davy,  don't.  Let  him  go  this 
time.      I  believe  he'll  never  trouble  me  again." 

"■  The  court  holds  that  won't  do,"  answered  Davy. 
"•  He  must  beg  your  pardon  and  also  take  the  oath  to 
Abraham  Lincoln  and  the  United  States  government. 
Ain't  he  must,  Schnapps?" 

The  dog  responded  by  giving  a  gleeful  bark,  as  if  to 
say :  — ■'-'•  The  idea  is  a  capital  one  and  meets  my  full 
approval  I  "  Pete  was  afraid  to  stir  ;  hate  and  fear  were 
depicted  on  his  face. 

'•'  Get  down  on  your  knees,  you  ketzer  you,"  cried 
Davy. 

"•  I'll  send  you  the  sheriff  for  this,"  said  Pete  with 
trembling  voice. 

"  On  your  knees  quick,"  cried  his  tormentor  again, 
"for  if  I  say  the  word,  Schnapps  will  be  on  you." 

"  I'll  be  plagued  if  I  don't  arrest  you  for  this,"  said 
Pete.  But  the  dog  looked  fierce  and  down  on  his  knees 
went  the  frightened  fellow. 

"  Listen  now,  and  repeat  after  me  word  for  word," 
said  Davy.  Then  with  mock  solemnity  he  imitated  a 
form  he  had  often  heard  in  Squire  Zweispringer's  office. 
He  would  say  haK  a  dozen  words  at  a  time  and  then 
stop  until  Prantman  could  repeat  them 

'■'■  I,  Peter  Prantman,  kneeling  in  the  middle  of  this 
lane  in  Copton  township,  in  the  count}^  of  Berks,  in  the 
presence  of  Blanche  Chetwynde," 

''  Oh,  Davy,  don't,"  interrupted  Blanche  pleadingly. 

■ —  "  Frank  Chetwynde,"  he  went  on,  not  heeding  her, 


98  ENEMIES     m   THE   REAR  ; 

"  David  Rauhzahn  and  Schnapps  Heifer,  do  make  good* 
my  insolence  to  the  aforesaid  Blanche  Chetwynde ;  and 
I  do  solemnly  swear  that  from  this  day  forth  and  forever 
I  will  cheer  and  pray  for  the  Union  and  Abraham  Lin- 
cohi "  — 

"  Donnerwetter  !     I  can't  " 


"Hurry  up, —  here,  Schnapps  —  that's  it;  now  where 
was  I  ?  Oh,  yes  —  you  needn't  say  these  last  words, 
Pete, —  that  I  will  never  say  nothing  against  the  Union 
soldiers  ;  and  also  I  do  swear  —  hurry  yourseK  Pete,  and 
don't  stutter  so  —  that  I  will  never  again  make  Blanche 
Chetwynde  afraid  or  molest  her  in  any  shape,  manner  or 
form.  So  help  me  Eulenspiegel,  Abraham  Lincoln, 
Simon  Cam  " 

"What  does  all  this  mean,  Frank,  Davy?"  said  a 
voice  behind  them  sharply. 

Startled,  they  turned,  and  there  stood  Jabez  Chet- 
wynde. When  evening  fell  he  had  grown  uneasy  at 
Blanche's  prolonged  absence  and  came  down  the  lane  to 
look  for  her.  Pete  was  too  much  absorbed  in  watching 
the  dog  and  Davy  to  see  Jabez  until  the  latter  was  close 
at  hand,  but  the  moment  the  attention  of  his  enemies 
was  withdrawn  he  sprung  to  his  feet  and  ran  down  the 
lane  like  a  hunted  deer.  But  Schnapps  deemed  it  his 
duty  to  stop  the  fugitive  and  started  after  him.  Davy 
refused  to  call  the  dog  off.  Had  Pete  been  a  runner  in 
the  Olympian  races  and  gone  at  the  same  speed,  he 
would  have  won  immortality.     In  a  moment  he  was  hat- 

♦Apologize  for. 


OE,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUAE,ED.  99 

less,  his  long,  blue  coat-tails  flew  in  the  wind,  his  yellow 
hair  stood  toward  all  points  of  the  compass,  his  arms 
sawed  the  air,  his  heavy  cow-hide  shoes  struck  the 
ground  like  great  sledge-hammers,  and  his  legs  looked 
like  big  fat  right-angles  as  he  fairly  flew  over  the 
ground.  He  heard  the  dog  and  knew  the  animal  was 
gaining  on  him.  This  lent  speed  to  his  flight.  The 
wicked  flee  indeed  when  no  man  pursues,  but  it  adds 
considerably  to  the  swiftness  of  their  flight  if  they  know 
something  is  after  them. 

Peter  Prantman  was  literally  a  flying  Dutchman.  In 
his  agony  he  yelled  "  Donnerwetter  "  several  times  and 
Schnapps  promptly  responded  each  time  with  a  bark. 
Just  as  the  dog  was  on  the  point  of  putting  a  period  to 
Pete's  career,  Davy  called  to  him,  when  he  instantly, 
though  reluctantly,  turned  back  to  his  master.  Pete 
emerged  into  the  main  road,  but  kept  on  his  way  some 
distance  farther.  Finding  that  Schnapps  was  no  longer 
at  his  heels,  he  halted  and  looked  across  the  corner  of 
the  field  toward  the  place  where  Mr.  Chetwynde  and 
the  rest  stood  Avatching  him.  In  the  gathering  twilight 
they  could  see  him  wildly  gesticulating  and  shaking  his 
fist  at  them.  He  spoke  loudly,  but  all  they  could  make 
out  at  that  distance  was  "  Donnerwetter  —  Yankees  — 
revenge  —  soon."  Presently  he  went  on  up  the  road 
and  disappeared  from  view. 

Blanche  and  the  boys  related  the  whole  adventure  to 
Mr.  Chetwynde  as  they  walked  up  the  lane.  Schnapps 
was  the  silent  partner  of  the  company,  and  seemed  to 


100  ENEMIES  LN^   THE   KEAB. 

look  disappointed.  Jabez  was  amused  at  the  narrative 
but  was  serious  too. 

"  I  did  not  want  the  boys  to  do  what  they  did,  and  I 
am  very  sorry  it  happened,"  said  Blanche.  "It  was 
wrong  for  me  to  remain,  but  I  was  so  excited  that  I 
hardly  knew  what  I  was  doing." 

"  The  boys  went  a  trifle  too  far  in  their  fun,"  said 
Mr.  Chetwynde,  "  but  Pete  brought  it  on  and  I  reckon 
he'll  get  over  it  in  time." 

"  Of  course  he  will,  and  I  don't  believe  either  that 
he'll  keep  his  oath  at  all,  by  my  sex,"  said  Davy. 

"  I  don't  reckon  it  was  quite  as  binding  as  Squire 
Zweispringer's,"  replied  Mr.  Chetwynde  laughing. 

That  same  evening  Frank  wrote  a  full  account  of  the 
affair  in  the  lane  to  his  brother  Clinton. 


CHAPTER  X. 

A   \VO:MA]Sr   WITH   A   FAISnLIAfl  SPIRIT    SOUGHT    OUT. 

Early  in  November,  a  week  or  so  after  Pete  Prantman 
had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  as  described  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapter,  that  young  man  and  his  sister  were 
one  afternoon  engaged  in  drawing  cornfodder  into  their 
father's  barn.  Pete  pitched  the  sheaves  and  Ret 
"  loaded  "  them  on  the  big  ladder-wagon. 

"Nigger  Ruthvon  I  heard  at  Baltzer's  last  evening 
has  been  in  several  fights  and  didn't  get  hurt  at  all," 
said  the  brother  stopping  in  his  work ;  "  and  they  say 
he  captured  two  Southern  soldiers  and  will  soon  be  put 
up  to  captain." 

"  If  that's  so,  and  he  ever  gets  back,  you  wont  have 
any  chance  at  all  with  the  proud  Yankee  girl,  Pete," 
answered  the  sister  looking   down  from  her  high  perch. 

"  I  think  you'll  be  out  too,  Ret,  but  they  ain't  got 
each  other  yet,  and  they  never  will,  if  I  can  help  it." 

"And  how  they're  making  fun  of  you,  Pete,  about 
something.  Sal  Vonneida  says  that  Davy  Rauhzahn's 
big  black  dog  has  a  piece  of  your  coat  in  his  teeth,  and 
she  told  me  a  long  row  about  your  taking  an  oath  in 
Chet^vynde's  lane  to  shout  for  Abe  Lincoln  and  the  nig- 
gers, and  then  she  laughed  until  she  nearly  choked  —  I 
wish  she  had,  the  carrion  !  " 


102  ENEMIES    IN    THE   BEAR  ; 

At  this  moment  Pete  gave  the  horses  several  fearful 
blows  with  his  fork-handle,  causing  the  animals  to  start 
so  quickly  that  Ret  came  very  near  being  thrown  to  the 
ground. 

"  Don't  hit  the  horses,  you  dumb-head  ;  hit  somebody 
else ! "  she  shouted  recovering  herself. 

*' Donnerwetter !  I  will,"  he  answered,  laying  uncom- 
mon stress  on  his  favorite  exclamation  and  grinding  hi§ 
teeth  in  a  way  that  showed  he  meant  what  he  said. 

"  And  Yorim  was  at  the  house  this  morning  and  he 
said  that  Tom  Hartnagel  was  seen  in  Reading  yester- 
day, and  I  believe  Sal  knew  something  about  it  when  I 
saw  her  yesterday,  because  she  said  before  long  some- 
body would  come  home  and  then  somebody  would  get 
paid  in  full  for  his  good  wishes  about  somebody." 

'•'■  Say,  Ret,  this  is  only  Tuesday,"  said  Pete,  so  much 
excited  that  he  threw  several  sheaves  entirely  over  the 
high  load,"  what's  the  use  of  waiting  till  Saturday  night 
before  we  go  to  see  Katrina?" 

"  Well,  you  know  pap  and  mam  don't  want  us  to 
spend  money  on  that  ink-licker,  and  besides  she  says  the 
books  don't  shoAV  up  as  well  on  any  night  as  on  Satur- 
day or  Sunday  night." 

"  We'll  go  to-night  anyhow.  Ruthvon's  have  their 
apple-peeling  match  and  we  can  make  pap  and  mam 
believe  Ave're  going  there,  for  Amos  daren't  tell  on  us." 

Ret  agreed,  and  shortly  after  nightfall  the  two  started 
on  their  way  on  foot  to  the  habitation  of  Katrina  Galsch. 

The   superstition  of  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  is  pro- 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  103 

verbial.  Their  conservative  spirit  has  led  them  to  chng 
with  remarkable  tenacity  to  the  old-world  ideas  of  their 
German  ancestors.  Farmers  plant  into  this  sign  and 
that  sign  of  the  Zodiac  rather  than  into  the  soil  and 
believe  their  crops  will  be  largely  governed  by  the  char- 
acter of  the  sign.  For  instance,  if  corn  is  planted  in 
Gemini,  the  crop  will  be  double  ;  if  in  Cancer,  back- 
ward ;  if  in  Aquarius  or  Pisces,  it  will  likely  be  drowned; 
if  in  Sagittarius,  the  ears  will  shoot  big  but  will  not  fill 
out  well. 

Again,  if  potatoes  are  planted  when  the  moon  waxes 
—  "-im  Uebergehenden," — the  crop  will  be  large,  if 
Gemini  has  been  at  the  same  time  the  zodiacal  sign  ; 
and  if  planted  in  the  waning  of  the  moon  —  "•  im  Unter- 
gehenden,"  —  the  tubers  will  be  small  and  lie  deep  in 
the  soil.  Even  in  farming  districts  near  large  cities  the 
weather  predictions  in  the  German  Almanac  issued  from 
the  office  of  the  Reading  Adler,  are  far  more  frequently 
consulted  than  the  bulletins  sent  out  by  the  weather 
bureau  at  Washington  —  which-  is  not,  however,  to 
be  regarded  as  very  singular  perhaps. 

In  the  back  districts,  notably  in  those  lying  among 
the  ridges  of  the  South  Mountain,  the  old  German 
superstitions  still  have  full  sway.  There  the  saying 
of  spells  —  '•'•  brauchen,"  — a  kind  of  pow-wowing  minus 
its  noise  and  dancing,  — -  over  wounds  and  the  sick 
among  both  men  and  animals  is  common  enough. 
Horseshoes  and  toads'  feet  nailed  over  stable-doors, 
house-doors  and  even  bedsteads,  to  keep  off  witches,  are 


104  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAK  ; 

frequently  seen ;  and  the  belief  in  the  power  of  witches 
and  evil  spirits  to  cause  cows  to  give  bloody  milk,  make 
horses  baulk,  keep  hens  from  laying,  and  to  do  other 
mischief,  is  prevalent. 

Witch-doctors,  who  are  believed  to  have  the  power  of 
breaking  the  spells  of  witches,  make  thieves  stand  still, 
discover  stolen  goods  and  reveal  hid  treasures,  are  in 
good  demand,  and  gather  in  a  rich  crop  of  modern  U.  S. 
dollars.  Numerous  persons  who  believe  themselves 
bewitched  consult  one  or  more  of  the  famous  witch- 
doctors of  Reading,  the  capital  of  Berks  county,  and 
scrupulously  follow  the  ridiculous  directions  for  taking 
their  nostrums. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  in  such  neighborhoods  fortune- 
tellers are  also  in  demand ;  it  goes  without  saying  that 
the  supply  is  quite  equal  to  it.  Bvit  in  a  -wide  range  of 
country  south  of  Haltfest  during  the  war-times  one 
gained  the  preeminence,  "and  for  the  time  drove  all 
competitors  from  the  field.  It  was  she  to  whose  house 
Pete  Prantman  and  his  sister  were  making  their  way 
this  bleak  November  evening.  As  she  plays  an  import- 
ant part  in  this  narrative,  a  brief  sketch  of  her  life  will 
be  of  interest  at  this  point. 

Katrina  Galsch  was  German  by  birth.  She  was  well 
educated,  for  her  father  was  wealthy  in  his  native  land, 
and  an  office-holder  in  his  own  city  of  Carlsruhe.  Re- 
duced in  circumstances  through  prolonged  litigations 
arising  from  certain  irregularities  on  the  part  of  a 
subordinate,  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  the 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  105 

hope  of  repairing  his  broken  fortunes.  Like  many  other 
Germans  he  sought  a  mountainous  region  because  in 
such  a  one  lands  were  cheaper.  He  had  a  few  hun- 
dred dollars  when  he  arrived,  and  with  this  sum  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  unimproved  ground  on  the  South 
Mountain,  about  four  miles  nearly  due  south  of  Haltfest 
and  a  mile  or  two  west  of  Outlook  Hill.  He  soon 
brought  several  acres  of  rough  soil  under  cultivation, 
and  built  a  rude  dwelling  of  unhewn  stone. 

Katrina  was  his  only  hving  child,  and  his  wife  died 
on  the  voyage  over  and  was  buried  at  sea.  So  father 
and  daughter  led  a  lonely  life,  but  he  at  least  cared 
little  for  his  kind,  his  contentions  at  law  and  his  pecun- 
iary losses  having  soured  him  against  humanity.  After 
living  in  his  new  home  ten  years  and  beginning  to 
thrive,  he  died.  Though  left  alone  in  the  world, 
Katrina  was  not  dismayed.  She  had  indeed  been 
brought  up  tenderly  but  in  the  years  in  the  new  home 
she  had  accustomed  herself  to  her  changed  surroundings 
and  was  able  now  to  perform  labor  and  endure  fatigue 
such  as  few  save  German  and  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
females  can.  She  kept  a  large  flock  of  common  barn- 
yard fowls  and  cultivated  fruits  and  vegetables.  She 
went  abroad  only  when  necessary,  which  was  seldom. 
Her  neighbors  were  few  and  even  these  visited  her  only 
at  rare  intervals. 

On  one  occasion  when  several  gossips  called  on  her 
the  Bible  happened  to  become  a  topic  of  conversation. 
She  showed  a  remarkable  acquaintance  with  the  letter 


106  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR  ; 

of  the  sacred  writings  and  with  the  interpretations  and 
doctrines  of  the  Mystics.  She  knew  the  philosophy  of 
the  Gnostics.  She  had  in  her  great  oaken  chest  '^  The 
Life  of  Peter  as  written  by  John,"  '•  The  Book  of  Nico- 
demus,"  four  additional  "  Books  of  Moses,"  one  of 
which  contained  the  wisdom  of  the  Egyptians  in  which 
Moses  was  learned  ;  moreover,  "  The  Arts  of  J  amies 
and  Jambres  who  withstood  Moses  before  King  Pharaoh, 
as  they  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Lawgiver  during  the 
prevalence  of  the  Seventh  Plague,"  and  numerous  other 
apocryphal  books. 

Of  these  volumes,  brought  from  Germany,  she  was 
careful  to  show  only  the  titles  to  her  visitors,  but  she 
talked  glibly  about  Jesus'  childhood,  the  conversation  of 
Jesus  with  Peter  at  their  interview  after  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  former,  and  many  other  things  which  curi- 
osity would  be  glad  to  know  but  on  which  God's  word 
sheds  little  or  no  light.  Her  simple-minded  hearers, 
ignorant  and  superstitious,  listened  with  open-mouthed 
wonder,  and  the  impression  made  was  all  the  stronger 
because  she  was  a  foreigner,  lived  in  seclusion,  and 
spiced  her  discourse  with  Latin  phrases.  Curiosity  at 
once  developed  into  unwholesome  respect  and  fear. 
Quickly  she  took  the  hint.  To  subsequent  visitors  she 
threw  out  intimations  of  knowledge  of  futurity  and  it 
was  not  long  before  rumors  were  abroad  as  to  Katrina 
Galsch's  wonderful  ken  of  the  past  and  the  future  of 
individuals.  Soon  lovelorn  swains,  the  defrauded,  the 
bewitched,  the  hated,  the  hating,  came  to  consult  her. 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  107 

She  settled  down  into  a  fortune-teller.  She  told  the 
fortunes  of  her  patrons  —  not  by  means  of  coffee-dregs, 
cards,  lines  in  the  hands  or  any  such  like  vulgar  agencies 
of  the  ordinary  fortune-teller,  but  by  the  Bible,  her 
other  sacred  books,  and,  as  she  plainly  declared,  by 
direct  communication  with  spirits  good  and  evil. 

Her  purse  grew  fat,  for  he  wlio  could  without  a  price 
read  his  fortune  very  clearly  in  such  verses  of  the  Scrip- 
tures as  Luke  13  :  5,  refused  and  willingly  paid  this 
sibyl  a  dollar  to  tell  what  none  but  God  could  reveal. 

At  the  time  when  she  is  introduced  to  the  reader  she 
was  seventy-five  years  old,  as  nearly  as  was  known,  for 
she  never  spoke  of  her  age.  She  had  little  of  the  ex- 
ternal appearance  of  the  regulation  member  of  her  order 

—  coarse  grey,  disheveled  hair,  wrinkled  face,  hooked 
nose,  toothless  mouth,  claw-like  fingers  and  bent  form  ; 

—  on  the  contrary,  in  spite  of  her  years  and  the  hard- 
ships she  had  experienced,  her  hair  was  dark,  her  eyes 
sparkled,  her  form  was  erect,  her  steps  sprightly,  her 
teeth  almost  perfect,  her  voice  distinct.  She  had  an 
open  look  and  the  general  appearance  of  a  person  en- 
gaged in  the  pursuit  of  a  most  laudable  calling.  More- 
over, there  was  tliat  in  her  manner  well  calculated  to 
awe  those  who  came  to  consult  her. 

This  woman  delighted  in  her  occupation  —  partly 
because  it  brought  her  gain  and  partly  because  it  af- 
forded her  opportunity  to  witness  human  emotions  under 
peculiar  circumstances.  She  was  not  naturally  hard- 
hearted or  cruel  and  possessed  a  strong  sense  of  grat- 


108  ENElVnES   EST   THE   REAR  ; 

itude  to  any  who  might  befriend  her.  Nevertheless,  as 
was  inevitable,  her  calling  made  her  year  by  year  more 
selfish. 

In  plying  her  trade  Katrina  Galsch  had  an  indispen- 
sable auxiliary.  This  was  a  lad  of  some  fourteen  years 
known  as  Scharf  Billy,  that  is,  Sharp  Billy.  His  real 
name  was  William  Puterberg,  and  his  nickname  was 
given  him  in  view  of  the  extraordinary  sharpness  of  his 
features,  more  specially  his  nose,  to  which  acuteness  his 
intellect  and  tongue  corresponded  perfectly.  He  was 
rather  small  for  his  age,  but  wiry  and  lithe  and  active  as 
a  wild  cat.  In  cold  weather  he  wore  a  long,  antiquated 
coat  brought  from  the  old  country  by  Fritz  Galsch. 
His  hat  was  always  too  small  for  him,  which  circum- 
stance made  his  face  seem  all  the  more  acute  in  its 
outHne.  He  had  a  queer,  loping  gait,  which  he  kept  up 
for  miles  without  seeming  to  tire. 

Sharp  Billy  was  very  fond  of  music.  He  had  a  fife 
and  played  it  well,  and  he  could  sing  all  the  Pennsyl- 
vania German  ditties  and  frolic  songs  to  say  nothing  of 
sacred  hymns  learned  at  church,  and  Trinklieder  or 
German  drinking  songs  taught  him  by  his  guardian.  Of 
his  parentage  little  was  known,  Katrina  Galsch  saw 
the  lad  when  he  was  quite  young  and  observed  his 
shrewdness,  which  even  then  already  manifested  itself 
in  the  numerous  and  pointed  questions  he  asked  her. 
She  perceived  in  the  child  a  valuable  ally  and  resolved 
to  secure  him.  To  do  this  she  had  little  trouble. 
His  parents  were  very  poor  and  she  was  believed  to  be 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIKCLE   SQUARED.  109 

rich,  and  when  she  promised  to  make  him  her  heir  in 
case  he  proved  faithful  they  eagerly  consented  to  give 
him  up.  She  adopted  him  and  soon  he  was  known  the 
country  over  as  old  fortune-teller  Galsch's  Sharp  Billy, 
or  the  witch's  boy. 

The  attachment  which  these  diverse  beings  had  for 
each  other  was  remarkable.  Katrina  loved  the  lad  as 
an  own  son.  Any  affront  offered  him  was  as  to  herseK ; 
any  kindness  to  him  was  kindness  to  her.  He  fully 
reciprocated  her  affection  and  in  time  almost  forgot  his 
parents.  He  was  ubiquitous.  He  picked  the  berries 
and  other  fruits  and  marketed  them  at  Haltfest,  bought 
and  brought  home  the  necessary  provision  and  ran 
errands  of  all  kinds.  And  all  the  while  he  gathered 
news.  There  was  hardly  a  frolic,  apple-butter  bee,  or 
meeting  of  any  kind  for  miles  around,  whether  held  by 
day  or  by  night,  but  Sharp  Billy  was  present ;  and  all 
he  saw  and  heard  was  faithfully  reported  at  home.  No 
secret  was  ever  divulged  without  permission  of  his  foster- 
mother. 

Thus  by  means  of  this  lad,  by  consulting  the  news- 
papers regularly  and  by  asking  questions  of  her  patrons, 
added  to  her  native  shrewdness  and  correct  knowledge 
of  motives,  Katrina  Galsch  was  able  to  tell  many  things 
relative  to  the  past  of  individuals  and  to  make  some 
very  good  guesses  concerning  their  future. 

Among  her  patrons  were  Pete  and  Ret  Prantman,  for 
when  malice  and  ignorance  enter  into  partnership  they 
frequently  take  in  superstition  as  a  third  party  to  the 


110  ENEMIES    IN"  THE   BEAR; 

compact.  At  present  an  important  question  was  agitat- 
ing the  minds  of  this  brother  and  sister :  —  whether 
Pete's  vision  of  a  certain  brave  soldier  lying  dead  on  the 
field  of  battle  was  coming  true  or  not.  That  the  brother 
desired  it  realized  need  not  be  repeated,  and  that  the 
sister  was  animated  with  the  same  wish  is  no  less  cer- 
tainly true.  For  she  had  long  since  learned  from  Sallie 
Vonneida  that  Charles  Ruthvon  was  "  not  looking  her 
way"  and  would  not  until  a  certain  sign  were  seen  in 
the  heavens,  and  her  love  had  been  transmuted  into  the 
hate  which,  if  the  poet  speaks  the  truth,  only  a  woman 
scorned  can  feel.  To  know  whether  their  mutual  desire 
would  come  was  worth  a  dollar.  Katrina  Galsch  could 
tell  them,  and  she  must. 

This  was  the  errand  the  pair  was  on  to-night.  After 
reaching  the  crest  of  the  mountain  they  still  had  over  a 
mile  of  very  rough  road  to  walk.  The  hooting  of  an 
owl  close  by  accelerated  their  steps  and  a  little  after 
eight  o'clock  they  reached  the  rude  habitation  of  the 
sibyl.  She  was  alone  and  sat  by  a  wood-fire  blazing  on 
the  broad  hearth  reading  in  a  large  volume  that  lay  on 
her  knees.  They  entered  the  door  without  knocking, 
for  the  latter  was  a  refinement  even  now  unknown 
among  the  common  people  of  those  regions.  She  mani- 
fested neither  surprise  nor  alarm  when  they  stood  before 
her.  In  a  dignified  tone,  but  without  rising,  she  said 
"Peace  be  with  you"  and  bade  them  be  seated.  She 
was  well  acquainted  with  both,  and  as  they  came  on  an 
unusual  evening  she  was  sure  they  desired  information 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  Ill 

regarding  something  of  more  than  common  importance 
to  them. 

Instantly  she  was  on  the  alert.  Of  Pete's  recent 
humiliating  adventure  she  knew  all  the  particulars,  for 
the  very  next  day  Davy  Rauhzahn  had  communicated 
them  to  Sharp  Billy.  She  was  also  cognizant  of  his  as- 
piration to  the  favor  of  Blanche  Chetw^^nde  and  of  Ret's 
hate.  Hence  even  before  Pete  had  made  known  his 
errand  the  cunning  fortune-teller  was  pretty  well  satis- 
fied as  to  its  nature.  To  make  her  visitors  nervous  and 
thus  bring  them  more  fully  under  her  influence,  was  her 
first  object.  Pete  hitched  his  chair  uneasily  several 
times  and  cleared  his  throat. 

"•  Katrina,  how  are  the  books  to-night?"  he  asked  at 
last. 

"  The  books  are  all  right,"  she  responded  watching 
him  closely,  "  only  they  are  not  as  clear  on  Tuesday 
night  as  on  Friday,  Saturday,  or  Sunday,  for  reasons  any 
one  who  has  read  the  last  chajiters  of  the  Gospels  ought 
to  understand ;  and  two  of  my  Holy  Books  I  wouldn't 
consult  at  any  time  but  Sunday  night  between  eleven 
and  twelve  on  grounds  that  would  make  your  hair  stand 
on  end  if  I  mentioned  them." 

The  brother  and  sister  looked  around  them  with  di- 
lated eyes,  as  if  they  expected  a  demon  to  present  him- 
self before  them  at  once.  Keenly  enjoying  the  effect 
of  her  words  but  Avitliout  manifesting  it  in  her  counte- 
nance, Katrina  closed  the  book  and  carefully  placed  it 
in  the  oaken  chest.     Then  she  returned  and  sat  down 


112  ENEMIES    IN   THE   EEAR ; 

closer  by  them.  Speaking  in  that  low,  tremulous  tone 
which  of  a  dark  night  when  danger  is  supposed  to  be 
near  causes  the  flesh  to  creep  and  the  senses  to  become 
tense,  she  asked 

"  Did  you  hear  a  sound  like  the  wailing  of  an  owl 
when  you  came  by  the  Cross-rock  between  here  and  the 
upper  turn  of  the  road,  where  old  Fetzer  was  murdered 
in  1851?" 

"  We  did  indeed  !  "  they  both  exclaimed. 

"We  knew  it  was  only  an  owl,"  Pete  continued,  try- 
ing to  look  unconcerned,  "but  it  was  so  near  that  it 
scared  us  a  little." 

"  You  knew  it  was  only  an  owl,"  she  replied  in  well- 
assumed  tones  of  contempt ;  "  how  did  you  know  it  was 
only  an  owl  ?  Things,  children,  are  not  always  what 
they  seem.     How  often  did  you  hear  the  sound?" 

"  Three  times  !  "  they  said  with  bated  breath. 

"  I  knew  it,"  cried  the  sibyl  triumphantly,  drawing 
up  still  closer  to  them,  the  fire  meanwhile  throwing  weird 
shadows  upon  the  walls, —  "  I  knew  it,  and  I  know  you 
are  about  to  ask  me  a  question  therefore  that  concerns 
the  life  of  an  individual." 

"I  wouldn't  kill  nobody,"  said  Pete  hastily,  misap- 
prehending her  words. 

"  Oh,  no,  of  course  you  wouldn't,  Prantman,  by  the 
great  Eulenspiegel !  "  said  she  sarcastically.  "  Tell  me 
then  what  you  do  want ;  a  great  many  are  losing  their 
lives  now  down  there,"  pointing  over  her  left  shoulder 
toward  the  south. 


OR,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  113 

"And  by  my  soul,  about  one  of  them  that's  gone 
do^vn  there  we  want  to  know,"  exclaimed  Pete  eagerly, 
his  eyes  twice  their  ordinary  size.  Katrina  gave  a 
quick  nod  but  said  nothing. 

"•  You  old  witch,  tell  us  whether  that  Ruthvon  is 
coming  home  alive  and  well,"  said  Pete  irritably  after  a 
pause. 

"■Yes,  that  there,"  added  Ret. 

"•  But  the  '  old  witch '  couldn't  think  of  prying  into  so 
dreadful  a  thing  as  that  on  a  Tuesday  night  —  except 
on  Tuesday  night  before  Ash  Wednesday  —  for  less 
than  four  dollars,"  responded  the  sibyl  as  if  vexed,  but 
really  much  amused. 

"  Donnerwetter !  "  shouted  Pete,  "I  haven't  got  so 
much  in  the  world,  for  pap  never  gives  me  more  than 
ten  cents  at  a  time." 

"But  you  can  get  it,  or  its  value  in  something  else. 
I'll  take  your  word  and  you  know  what  I  can  do  if  you 
don't  keep  it." 

"  Say,  Galsch,  you  old  hex,"  said  Pete  squirming, 
"don't  you  go  and  make  our  cows  give  bloody  milk. 
Bodie  says  you  done  that  with  his  cows  because  they 
broke  into  your  lot,  and  he  says  he  isn't  afraid  of  any 
witch  and  will  switch  you  out  of  the  township,  old  as 
you  are,  if  it  happens  again." 

Katrma  was  somewhat  disturbed  by  this  remark,  for 
Bodie,  who  was  her  nearest  neighbor,  was  a  rough  fellow 
who  neither  feared  God  nor  much  regarded  man.  She 
professed  to  be  a  fortune-teller  only,  but  a  fortune-teller 


114  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR; 

and  a  witch  were  own  cousins  in  the  pubhc  estimation, 
and  she  had  done  too  much  boasting  to  make  a  defence 
when  accused  of  mischief.  Ket  quickly  saw  what  Avould 
have  escaped  her  duller  brother's  notice. 

"  Call  it  two  dollars,"  said  she. 

"  Your  cows  won't  be  disturbed,  Pete,"  said  Galsch. 
"We're  friends.  Give  me  a  dollar  in  cash,  and  bring 
me  three  dollars  in  corn." 

They  assented,  and  Pete  counted  out  one  hundred 
cents,  after  which  the  sibyl  proceeded  to  solve  the 
weighty  problem  proposed  to  her.  First  she  lifted  a 
human  skull  out  of  her  strong  box,  lighted  a  taper 
and  placed  it  within,  and  then  set  this  illuminated  relic 
of  mortality  on  the  rough  table.  Her  patrons  looked  at 
it  and  shuddered.  They  never  had  seen  its  like  before, 
and  all  the  uncanny  things  they  ever  had  heard  of  this 
woman  rushed  to  their  minds.  How  they  wished  them- 
selves at  home ! 

Next  the  fortune-teller  took  out  of  the  same  box  a 
ponderous,  heavy-backed  tome,  laid  it  by  the  skull, 
opened  it,  and  soon  seemed  deeply  absorbed  in  its  pages. 
After  turning  many  leaves  as  though  looking  for  a 
particular  passage,  she  arose  and  retired  to  a  small,  dark 
chamber  adjoining,  lifting  a  forefinger  and  laying  it 
on  her  lips  as  she  entered  in  token  of  silence  on  their 
part.  She  remained  away  a  long  time,  and  the  visitors 
could  hear  nothing  but  the  ticking  of  the  great  Dutch 
clock,  the  flickering  of  the  flames  on  the  hearth  and  the 
sough  of  the  wind  among  the  trees  without. 


OR,     A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  115 

Suddenly  a  great  black  cat  jumped  into  the  room 
through  a  broken  window-light,  and  seeing  strangers  ran 
into  the  apartment  that  Galsch  had  entered.  From 
thence  at  the  same  moment  issued  groans  as  of  one 
accursed  and  a  plaintive  voice  cried  "  Ach  Gott,  ach 
Gott !  "  Terrified  by  what  they  saw  and  heard,  Pete  and 
his  sister  leaped  up  and  ran  to  the  outer  door ;  but  hear- 
ing Katrina  call  to  them,  they  stopped.  She  said  it  was 
all  right  now,  and  bade  them  sit  down  again  and  not  fear. 

"  I  wish  on  such  an  awful  matter  you  had  come  on 
Simday,  for  I  could  have  given  you  a  clearer  answer  to 
your  question.  Still,  the  record  of  the  sacred  book 
and  its  interpretation  I  have  received  —  get  back, 
Gewitter,  you  black  satan,"  she  cried  as  the  cat  put  its 
head  through  the  door  between  the  two  apartments, 
"  you  always  make  mischief. —  I  can  tell  you  people  that 
Charlie  Ruthvon  is  in  danger  now  and  may  be  hurt  bad, 
and  perhaps  killed,  inside  of  three  months." 

"  By  Schinner  !  "  exclaimed  Pete  much  excited,  "  and 
say,  you  old  — -  Galsch,  who  will  Blanche  Chetwynde 
marry  ?  You'll  answer  that  yet  under  the  four  dollar 
contract,  won't  you  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  Prantman,  as  you're  so  poor  and  it  was 
revealed  to  me  in  part  at  the  same  interview,"  she 
replied  with  a  faint  smile.  — "  Well,  she  won't  marry 
for  some  time  yet,  and  when  she  does  it  will  be  a  yomig 
farmer  in  Copton  township  not  far  from  your  place. 
There  are  beautiful  girls  in  the  South,  some  white  and 
some  black,  and  Charlie  has  seen  one  of  them,  as  my 


116  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR; 

signs  clearly  show.     His  father  is  against  the  Yankee 
match  bad,  sure  as  the  world  stands  !  " 

"  Sapperlotte  !  Galsch  !  "  cried  Pete  in  an  ecstasy  ; 
"  when  I  bring  the  corn  I  will  certainly  throw  in  a  big 
head  of  cabbage,  by  the  henker,  I  will !  —  Let's  go, 
Ret,  it's  getting  close  to  midnight." 

"  And  the  night  is  dark,"  said  Katrina  solemnly  by 
way  of  impressing  the  interview  on  their  minds  still 
more  ;  "  and  if  you  had  to-night  seen  what  I  saw,  you 
wouldn't  feel  so  comfortable." 

"  Say,  Galsch,  is  there  any  danger?"  asked  Pete  nerv- 
ously. 

"  Not  much.  Look  out  though  at  the  Cross-rock. 
Nothing  will  hurt  you,  but  you,  Pete,  might  be  scared 
if  you  were  not  so  brave." 

When  they  were  leaving  she  said,  "Peace  be  with 
you.  Should  anything  unearthly  appear,  say  to  it 
''Alle  gute  Geister  lohen  den  Herrn,''  and  no  harm  will 
come  to  you.     Pax  vohiscumy 

After  they  were  fairly  gone  she  laughed  heartily. 
"  You   Gewitter    you,"   she   said  addressing    the    cat, 
"you  came  in  at  a  good  time.     Didn't  we  scare  them? 
And  what  fun  there'll  be  when  Pete  tries  his  luck  at 
Chetwynde's  again  !  —  The  silly,  shallow  fools." 

Katrina  Galsch  was  not  slow  to  conclude,  judging 
from  the  result  of  the  uprising  in  her  native  land  in 
1848  and  from  the  earnestness  and  superior  resources  of 
the  North,  that  the  Union  cause  would  probably  speedily 
triumph.     She    took    her    course    accordingly    and   was 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  117 

jfriendly  to  Charles  Ruthvon,  Doctor  Heifer  and  the  rest, 
while  for  her  own  ends  she  at  the  same  time  simulated 
friendship  toward  Prantman,  Zellon  and  others  of  like 
sympathies.  Moreover,  she  and  Billy  were  under  great 
obligation  to  Doctor  Heifer,  for  one  day  the  lad  fell  off  a 
chestnvit  tree  and  broke  his  leg.  The  doctor  happened 
to  find  him  and  by  the  exercise  of  care  and  skill  prob- 
ably saved  his  life.  Neither  Billy  nor  his  foster-mother 
forgot  his  kindness. 

After  leaving  the  dwelling  of  the  fortune-teller  Pete 
and  Ret  went  on  their  way  home  with  mingled  feelings ; 
they  were  pleased  with  the  result  of  their  interview  but 
their  fears  obtruded  themselves.  The  pines  on  either 
side  of  the  road  made  the  darkness  dense,  and  after  what 
Galsch  had  said  they  dared  not  go  past  the  Cross-rock 
but  made  a  detour  that  led  them  through  a  number  of 
very  stony  fields  in  which  certain  painful  falls  and 
bruises  caused  the  brother  to  use  his  harmless  expletive 
frequently.  Just  as  they  again  struck  the  road  they 
were  startled  by  a  noise  in  the  bushes  by  the  way- 
side. Pete  quickly  began  to  say  the  fortune-teller's 
formula  and  had  pronounced  the  first  three  words  — 
'■'- Alle  gute  Geister" — when  a  human  form  emerged 
into  the  road  and  a  boyish  voice  interrupted  his  adju- 
ration. 

"Hollo,  Pete;  hollo,  Ret!  That  you?  I'm  not  a 
good  spirit  or  any  other  kind.  Being  only  a  boy  and 
sure  a  Schnapphans  was  coming,  I  stepped  into  the 
bushes  a  moment  to  avoid  losing  my  pocket-book ;  but  I 


118  EKElVnES    IN   THE    REAR  ; 

know  the  voice  of  honest  people  when  I  hear  it,  and 
stepped  out  again." 

"  You  young  Teufelsdreck,  you  ought  to  be  switched 
for  being  out  this  time  of  the  night  and  scaring  honest 
people,"  snarled  Ret  in  her  harshest  tones. 

"  No  doubt,"  responded  Sharp  Billy,  for  he.  it  was 
"  but  some  people  ought  never  to  be  scared,  for  they 
needn't  fear  they'll  ever  meet  anyone  uglier  than  them* 
selves.     Eh,  Ret?" 

Ret,  like  some  other  maidens,  had  great  readiness  in 
jumping  at  conclusions.  She  made  a  dash  at  Billy  m  the 
dark,  but  he  easily  eluded  her  and  laughed  gleefully. 

"  I'll  be  even  with  you,  you  ketzer,  just  wait,"  ex- 
claimed the  damsel  wrathfully,  and  there  is  no  doubt 
that  if  she  had  succeeded  in  catching  him,  she  would 
presently  have  been  considerably  more  than  even  with 
him.  As  it  was,  however,  she  merely  afforded  him  a 
little  amusement.  Pete's  awe  of  the  fortune-teller  would 
shield  him  from  the  brother  and  Ret  could  not  catch 
him.     So  he  ran  a  few  steps  and  stopped. 

"  All  right,"  he  cried ;  "  I'll  wait  with  great  impa- 
tience till  you  do." 

He  was  off  in  the  dark  and  in  a  few  moments  they 
heard  him  sing  as  he  went  up  the  hill  — 


"  Oh,  yes,  Dutch  company  is  the  best  company, 
When  shall  we  meet  again, 
Oh,  when?" 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  119 

which  he  followed  in  shrill  notes  with  the  old  Pennsyl- 
vania Dutch  frolic-song  — 

"  Oh,  Susie  Owl,  I  wish  'twas  night  , 

That  I  might  fly  to  my  heart's  delight." 

"  That  one  will  be  hung  yet,  and  if  I  live,  I'm  going 
to  see  the  sight,"  said  Ret  spitefully.  We  will  still  hope 
for  a  better  end  for  you,  Billy. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

SUSIE  ZWEISPEINGER  EXPRESSES  HER  VIEWS. 

Toward  the  end  of  November  Blanche  Chetwynde  one 
day  visited  her  friend,  Susie  Zweispringer.  Visits  were 
exchanged  frequently,  but  this  particular  visit  concerns 
this  narrative  and  hence  is  mentioned. 

Susie  was  unlike  her  father  in  many  things.  She  had 
far  more  decision,  and  was  just  as  outspoken  as  he  was 
cautious  and  conservative.  Her  willowy  form,  blonde 
complexion,  mild  grey  eye,  sweet  expression  and  quiet 
movement,  would  never  have  indicated  the  decisive  way 
she  had  of  declaring  herself,  or  her  firmness  in  pursuing 
a  course  of  action  she  deemed  necessary  and  right.  She 
was  motherless  and  her  father's  only  living  child.  He 
loved  her  tenderly  and  doted  on  her,  though  she  some- 
times startled  him  by  her  brusque  way  of  speaking  when 
deeply  interested. 

"Susie,  we  must  be  careful,"  he  would  say,  "else  we 
might  get  into  trouble  in  these  evil  days  of  war." 

To-day  Susie  was  unusually  glad  to  see  her  friend,  for 
had  she  not  just  received  a  letter  from  Clinton  Chet" 
wynde  ?  So  Blanche  scarcely  had  time  to  admire  the 
few  late  chrysanthemums  in  the  flower-bed  by  the  yard 
path,  and  to  pet  the  dog  which  came  to  give  her  a 
friendly  greeting,  before  Susie  said  "  Clinton  is  well.     I 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  121 

had  a  letter  from  him  at  noon  —  and  by  the  way  it 
should  have  been  here  two  days  ago.  His  regiment  is 
near  Washington  and  there  is  no  movement  in  the  army 
now.     He  thinks  they  may  lie  idle  all  winter." 

"I've  had  about  the  same  news,"  said  Blanche 
slightly  flushing,  "  though  not  quite  from  the  same 
source,  and" — with  a  pleased  look  —  "the  additional 
news  that  Charles  Ruthvon  is  now  Captain  Ruthvon." 

"  Is  that  rumor  true  ?  "  asked  Susie  eagerly. 

"  It  is.  The  captain  of  the  company  resigned  and  the 
lieutenants  died  in  the  hospital.  Charlie  was  very  brave 
in  a  skirmish  with  the  rebels  near  Dranesville  and  suc- 
cessfully led  a  scouting  party,  the  result  of  it  all  being 
his  promotion  to  a  captaincy  a  few  days  ago." 

"  I  am  proud,  Blanche,"  cried  Susie  enthusiastically, 
waving  a  little  flag  that  lay  on  the  centre-table,  "  that  so 
gallant  a  Union  soldier  hails  from  such  a  treason-stricken 
township  as  Copton.  His  father  —  wonder  what  old 
Ruthvon  thinks  of  this  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Blanche  m  an  absent-minded 
way  turning  the  leaves  of  'Lives  of  Great  Heroes' 
which  she  had  picked  up  from  the  melodeon ;  "  he 
seems  more  distant  than  ever  toward  us." 

"  He  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  himself,"  said  Susie  with 
snapping  eyes.  "What  heroes  these  young  men  will  be 
when  they  come  home  after  putting  down  the  rebellion," 
she  went  on  as  she  placed  the  flag  in  her  hair,  "  and  I 
do  wish  I  had  a  brother  to  send  to  this  war  seeing  I 
can  t  go  myself.     Look  at  Tom  Hartnagel.     His  wound 


122  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR  ; 

will  always  be  a  badge  of  honor,  and  his  escape  from  the 
rebels  after  being  a  prisoner  for  more  than  two  months 
will  be  a  topic  to  dwell  upon  as  long  as  he  lives.  •  What 
a  grand  fellow  he  is  !  No  wonder  Sallie  Vonneida  fairly 
idolizes  him  and  that  so  many  of  the  girls  are  jealous  of 
her." 

Some  moments  passed  in  silence  during  which  the 
thoughts  of  each  were  in  the  army. 

"Susie,"  said  Blanche,  half  hesitating,  ''do  you  know 
I  came  over  to  say  good-bye  to  you?" 

"  To  say  good-bye  to  me  ? "  exclaimed  her  friend  in 
great  surprise.  "Are  you  going  to  enlist  and  join 
Captain  Ruthvon's  company  ?  You  are  joking,  ain't  you, 
Blanche  ?  " 

"  No,  I'm  going  away  very  unexpectedly.  You  see, 
grandmother  Chetwynde,  who  lives  with  uncle  Silas 
Chetwynde,  is  quite  ill.  Uncle  and  grandmother  both 
want  me  to  come  and  stay  with  them  this  winter,  and 
as  aunt  is  not  strong  either,  papa  and  mamma  think  T  had 
better  do  so,  though  they  can  hardly  spare  me.  So  to- 
morrow morning  I  am  off  for  Connecticut." 

"  What  a  dreary  winter  is  before  me  !  What  shall  I 
do  without  you?"  said  Susie  ruefully.  Blanche  re- 
mained awhile  longer  and  the  usual  vows  of  eternal 
friendship  were  made.  The  final  good-byes  were  said 
next  morning  at  the  depot  and  in  due  time  Miss  Chet- 
wynde arrived  in  Kent,  where  she  received  an  affection- 
ate welcome  and  settled  down  for  a  long  stay. 

In  December  she  received  a  letter  from  Susie  Zwei- 


OK,     A   GOLDEl^f   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  123 

springer.  After  much  solicitation  she  agreed  to  permit 
the  readers  of  this  history  to  have  a  copy  thereof.  It 
ran  as  follows  :  — 

"  Haltfest,  Pa.,  Dec. — ,  1861. 

"  Dearest  Blanche  :  —  I  wrote  you  only  the  day 
before  yesterday,  but  I  must  write  you  again  to-day  or 
die,  and  I  much  prefer  doing  the  former  as  I  am  too 
happy  to  do  the  latter  just  yet. 

"  The  very  train  that  took  my  letter  brought  me  one 
from  Clinton  Chetwynde,  and  I  know  you  will  be  neither 
surprised  nor  angry  when  I  tell  you  that  he  asked  me  a 
very  pertinent  question  in  it.  I  showed  the  letter  to 
my  dear  papa  and  he  said  it  was  a  very  important  mat- 
ter and  that  one  ought  to  be  very  careful  in  such  things, 
that  he  knew  nothing  but  good  about  Clinton,  that  I 
was  his  darling  girl  who  every  day  looked  more  like  her 
dear,  dead  mamma,  and  that  I  might  answer  the  ques- 
tion as  I  thought  best.  I  hugged  him  and  then  sat 
down  and  answered  it  —  '  Yes ! '  I  am  free  to  say 
Clinton  would  have  got  the  same  answer  before  he  went 
away,  if  he  had  had  the  courage  to  ask  the  question. 
We  girls  must  be  terrible  things  !  —  He  says  he  could 
not  wait  until  he  comes  back  and  that  if  I  will  be  his, 
he  will  be  so  happy  and  be  able  to  fight  his  country's 
battles  so  much  better,  I  hope  he  has  my  answer  by 
this  time.     Oh,  if  it  should  be  lost ! 

"  I  am  so  happy,  and  so  proud  of  my  hero.  I  know 
he  is  a  little  younger  than  I  and  that  we  are  both  very 
young,  but  if  everybody  whom  it  concerns  is  satisfied, 


124  EKEMTES   EST   THE   REAR  J 

none  of  tlie  rest  need  find  fault,  and  if  any  one  does,  we 
don't  care.  I  pray  for  liim  every  night,  that  no  harm 
may  come  near  him. 

"And,  Blanche,  dear,  old  Ruthvon  —  I  like  Mrs. 
Ruthvon  very  much,  but  I  am  almost  getting  to  hate 
Mr.  Ruthvon.  He  is  an  old  curmudgeon,  as  Prof. 
Buchstecher  at  the  seminary  used  to  say.  Instead  of 
being  proud  of  his  son's  promotion,  he  says  he  is  so  sorry 
that  Charlie  is  engaged  in  the  unholy  task  of  taking 
people's  lawful  property  from  them  and  shooting  down 
men  who  are  only  resisting  a  tyrannical  government. 
What  do  you  think?  He  says  you  are  a  sensible  girl. 
And  why?  Because  you  didn't  encourage  Charlie  when 
you  found  that  he  (]\ir.  Ruthvon,  senior),  did  not  like 
his  son  to  marry  a  Yankee  girl !  He  said  this  to  papa, 
a  few  days  ago. 

"  I  think  I  oughtn't  to  tell  you  all  this,  and  I  couldn't 
bring  myseK  to  it  in  my  last  letter ;  but  now  I  must 
tell  it,  for  it  concerns  us  so  much,  and  I  am  real  angry, 
too.  I  did  not  know  things  had.  gone  so  far  between 
you  and  Charlie,  for  you,  bad  girl,  did  not  tell  me  about 
it ;  but  after  this,  as  we  are  to  be  sisters  —  won't  that 
be  nice  seeing  neither  of  us  ever  had  a  sister  of  her 
own!  —  we  will  tell  each  other  everything,  won't  we? 
And  I  am  making  a  real  good  beginning,  ain't  I,  dear 
Blanche  ? 

"  Let's  see,  where  was  I  ?  Oh,  yes,  — I  am  real  angry, 
not  only  with  old  Ruthvon,  but  with  you,  too,  my  love. 
The  idea  of  rejecting  poor  Charlie  because  his  father 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  125 

doesn  't  like  Yankees  !  I'm  astonished,  Blanche  Chet- 
wynde  !  If  you  loved  him,  why  didn't  you  accept  him, 
and  let  the  old  fellow  sulk,  if  he  wants  to  be  silly? 
Suppose  Charlie  should  be  —  I  cannot  write  the  awful 
word,  on  Clinton's  account,  too  —  if  anything  should 
happen  to  him,  how  wovild  you  feel  then?  I  believe 
you  made  a  mistake. 

"  And  then  about  that  Prantman.  He  tells  ai-ound 
that  you  only  let  on  being  scared  last  fall  down  in  the 
lane  and  that  you  think  a  good  deal  of  him  ;  that  if  your 
brother  Frank  and  Davy  Rauhzahn  had  minded  their 
own  business,  it  would  have  been  all  right.  He  says 
too  —  so  the  talk  goes  — -  that  when  you  come  home 
it  will  be  all  right  yet,  because  old  Ruthvon  does  not 
want  his  son  to  have  you,  and  that  he  —  I  mean  Pete — 
knows  Charlie  Rvithvon  will  never  get  you,  for  he  —  I 
mean  Pete  again  —  has  been  told  so  by  somebody  who 
knows  everything.  He  has  also  been  circulating  a  rumor 
that  Charlie  has  found  a  girl  in  the  South  and  has  given 
you  up  for  good  to  please  his  father.  Pete  ought  to  be 
stopped.  He  is  a  coward  himself,  but  he  shields  him- 
self behind  that  fellow  they  call  Zellon,  Avho  is  at  Prant- 
man's  now  nearly  all  the  time  and  goes  with  Pete  almost 
eveiywhere. 

"  Tom  Hartnagel  is  still  somewhat  lame  but  is  in  very 
good  spirits. 

"Time  moves  slowly  enough  here,  but  what  with  taking 
care  of  papa,  writing  to  Clinton  and  you,  reading  his 
letters  and  yours,  watching  the  newspapers — papa  still 


126  ElTElSnES    IN   THE    REAR  ; 

lets  that  rebel  sheet,  the  Reading  Eagle^  come  to  the 
house, — and  now  and  then  going  to  a  spelling-match 
(you  Yankees  call  them  bees,  though  bees  have  nothing 
to  do  with  them  so  far  as  I  know)  at  our  school-house, 
where  a  nice  young  man  named  Hinton  from  Chester 
county  teaches  this  winter  —  I  am  kept  well  engaged 
most  of  the  time. 

"  Of  course  we  go  to  church  every  two  weeks  in  the 
morning,  but  old  Mr.  Dox  is  rather  a  dull  preacher. 
The  other  Sunday  Deacon  Fettig  went  to  sleep  under  his 
preaching,  which  was  nothing  new  for  Fettig ;  but  this 
time  he  actually  didn't  wake  up  until  after  the  benedic- 
tion was  pronounced  and  the  people  were  dispersing! 
It  was  too  funny  for  anything,  and  Sharp  Billy  said  that 
Mr.  Dox  could  make  his  fortune  going  around  among 
the  dentists  and  preaching  to  people  who  were  getting 
their  teeth  fixed. 

"And  wi-iting  about  church  matters,  dear  Blanche,  re- 
minds me  of  something  that  happened  last  week  which 
would  be  a  good  deal  funnier  than  Fettig's  going  to 
sleep  if  it  were  not  so  bad  as  almost  to  disgust  a  body 
with  the  church  and  everything  belonging  to  it.  Im- 
agine such  a  thing  occurring  up  in  staid  Connecticut, 
the  land  of  wooden  - —  beg  pardon,  my  love  !  But  you  ask 
impatiently  what  it  was.  I  will  tell  you.  Young  Dubbs- 
kraut  met  papa  on  the  street  and  said  to  him  :  '  To-day 
something  is  going  on  that  will  make  a  bad  uproar  if 
Mr.  Dox  finds  it  out.' 

"  '  What's  that  ?  '  inquired  papa. 


I 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  127 

"• '  Why,  as  usual  deacon  Fettig  went  to  Reading  to  get 
the  communion  wine.  He  took  it  up  to  the  church  on 
his  return  and  found  the  other  deacons  there  making 
some  repairs  preparatory  to  the  communion  next  Sunday. 
They  all  began  to  sample  the  communion  wine  and  now 
they  are  all  up  there  in  the  church  drunk. 

"  Papa  was  surprised  but  on  inquiry  found  Dubbs- 
kraut's  report  only  too  true.  Hans  Prantman  was  one 
of  the  deacons.  The  communion  was  held  as  usual  last 
Sunday  and  Fettig  and  all  the  other  deacons  were  in 
their  places.  The  '  uproar'  Dubbskraut  predicted  might 
occur  has  not  yet  been  heard  of.  I  presume  good  Mr- 
Dox  did  not  get  to  hear  of  the  conduct  of  his  deacons 
and  so  of  course  nothing  will  ever  be  done  about  it.  It 
is  no  wonder  though  that  the  'sects,'  against  whom  our 
dear  old  minister  and  Mr.  Ruthvon  and  the  rest  have  so 
much  to  say,  are  making  inroads  among  the  people.  I 
sometimes  think  we  are  dead  here  in  religion  and  that 
these  sectarian  preachers  will  by  and  by  cause  the  old 
church  to  wake  xip.  And  when  I  hear  you  talk  about 
the  Sunday  schools  and  other  religious  societies  up  in 
Connecticut,  and  then  think  that  we  haven 't  even  a 
Smiday  school  in  our  church  and  that  these  same  deacons 
who  got  drunk  on  the  communion  wine  would  never  so 
far  permit  one  to  be  held  in  our  church  even  if  persons 
able  and  willing  to  carry  one  on  could  be  found, —  why, 
then  I  begin  to  feel  that  I  should  like  to  leave  the  place 
of  my  birth  forever  !  — 

"But  what  a  letter  I  am  writing.      To  come  back  to 


128  ENEMIES    IN   THE   KEAE,  ; 

first  principles  again  —  another  of  Prof.  Buchstecher's 
expressions,  —  don't  be  silly,  dear,  dear  Blanche,  and 
entertain  such  high  notions  about  things  that  in  them- 
selves amount  to  nothing  yet  concern  your  happiness  so 
nearly.  It  is  all  right  to  have  a  very  delicate  sense  of 
propriety  but  I  am  sure  so  long  as  Clinton  Chetwynde 
loved  me  and  I  loved  him,  I  would  n't  care  what  your 
father  might  say.  But  of  course  you  will  reply  that  it 
is  easy  for  me  to  say  this,  because  I  think  your  papa 
rather  likes  me  a  little.  But  —  well,  no  matter,  you 
think  it  all  over,  and  meanwhile  let  me  plead  for  Charlie 
with  you.  His  crusty  old  parent  will  yet  learn  to  appre- 
ciate him  even  though  it  may  be  when  it  is  too  late. 

"O,  Blanche !  Papa  has  just  brought  me  another 
letter  from  Clinton.  It  says  that  contrary  to  all  expec- 
tation, there  is  a  good  deal  of  movement  among  the 
troops  and  that  a  battle  may  soon  occur.  Of  course  he 
hadn't  yet  received  my  letter  with  the  answer,  and  now 
he  may  not  get  it  at  all.  What  anxious  times  these  are 
for  all  who  have  dear  ones  in  the  army  !  And  yet  many 
of  the  clodhoppers  around  here  exult  Avhen  things  go 
wrong  with  our  troops.  Just  wait  —  the  war  will  come 
home  to  them  yet ! 

"  Write  soon,  dear  sister,  and  let  me  know  all  your 
heart.  I  must  get  a  couple  more  stamps  as  this  siUy 
letter  is  far  over  weight.  At  any  rate  I  know  that  it  is 
heavily  freighted  with  love  from 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

Susie  Zweispringee." 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  129 

"  P.  s.  A  merry  Christmas !  But  you  don't  keep 
Christmas  in  Connecticut. 

S.  Z." 

"I  open  this  letter  again  to  say  that  Doctor  Heifer  just 
called.  He  wishes  to  be  remembered  to  you.  What  a 
nice  fellow  and  good  Union  man  he  is ! 

S.  Z." 

To  this  effusion  of  enthusiasm  and  love  a  reply  came 
in  due  season.  Though  Blanche  did  not  make  any  prom- 
ises, yet  to  Susie  there  seemed  to  be  a  wavering  of  her 
resolution. 

"  She  is  careful,  Susie,  and  that  is  best,"  said  the 
squire  as  he  gently  smoothed  his  daughter's  hair  after 
hearing  portions  of  Blanche's  letter.  "  Young  people 
will  often  save  trouble  if  they  regard  the  feehngs  of 
their  elders." 

Susie  made  no  reply  to  this  sage  remark  but  looked 
very  much  as  though  not  quite  convinced. 

Meanwhile  time  did  as  it  always  has  done  since  it 
began,  and  as  it  Avill  continue  to  do  until  the  angel  shall 
proclaim  that  it  is  no  longer  —  whether  there  is  peace 
or  war,  plenty  or  famine,  sunshine  or  storm,  joy  or  sor- 
row, life  coming  or  life  going  —  as  if  there  Avere  no  mil- 
lions of  human  beings  with  their  high  hopes  and  petty 
fears,  their  noble  aspirations  and  sordid  ambitions  — 
time  sped  on,  evenly,  calmly,  regardless  alike  of  him 
who,  impatient  to  attain  the  ends  it  is  to  bring   him, 


130  ENEMIES   m  THE  REAB  ; 

would  fain  hurry  its  flight,  and  of  him  who,  fearing  its 
revelations,  would  stop  the  wheels  of  its  chariot. 

So  the  winter  of  1861-2  wore  away,  adding  its  record 
to  the  sum  of  human  history.  For  some  months  nothing 
occurred  very  materially  affecting  the  fortunes  of  any  of 
the  people  with  whom  this  history  has  thus  far  dealt, 
save  that  one  of  the  young  men  who  went  out  with 
Charles  Ruthvon  took  ill  with  a  fever  and  died  in  a 
hospital  in  Washington. 

In  the  battle  of  Dranesville,  occurring  only  about 
twenty  miles  from  Washington,  December  20,  1861, 
and  resulting  in  a  victory  for  the  Union  forces,  the 
regiment  to  which  the  boys  from  Copton  township  were 
attached  took  no  part,  coming  up  just  as  the  rebels 
were  beginning  to  retreat ;  and  during  the  first  months 
of  1862  it  lay  in  close  winter  quarters  near  the  Capital. 
Charles  Ruthvon  and  Clinton  Chetwynde  wrote  cheer- 
ful letters  home  at  brief  intervals,  but  those  of  the 
former  to  his  father  found  but  an  indifferent  reception. 
Frederick  Ruthvon  said  little  to  his  wife  or  daughter  in 
reference  to  the  absent  son  and  brother.  He  seemed  to 
grow  gloomy  and  was  somewhat  distant  even  to  them. 

Doctor  Heifer  bore  up  bravely  under  the  fire  of  rail- 
lery to  which  he  was  sometimes  subjected  at  "  The 
People's  Hotel,"  and  seldom  lost  his  temper. 

"  Ho !  my  turn  will  come,"  he  would  exclaim  like  a 
man  biding  his  time.  "  In  the  spring  Uncle  Sam  will 
take  a  fresh  hold  on  the  thi-oat  'of  rebellion  and  choke  it 
to  death.     Then  some  of  you  fellows  wiU,  let  us  hope, 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUARED.  131 

be  ashamed  of  yourselves  and  wish  you'd  never  been 
bom  I  " 

Ad  Sparger  was  a  daily  visitor  at  the  chief  Haltfest 
public ;  he  got  many  a  drink  of  his  panacea  from  benevo- 
lently inclined  tavern-haunters,  and  went  steadily  on  in 
his  downward  career. 

Pete  Prantman  was  seldom  seen  at  Baltzer's  this 
winter,  and  when  be  did  appear  there  was  always  ac- 
companied by  Jake  Zellon  or  James  Fetzer.  He  had  a 
wholesome  fear  of  Tom  Hartnagel  and  carefully  avoided 
him. 


I 


CHAPTER   XII. 

A  PEKNSYLVAJSITA  DUTCH   VEISTDUE. 

"  Squire,  go  along  up  to  the  vendue  at  Yokkle  Shif- 
fler's  this  afternoon.  I've  got  one  or  two  patients  to 
look  after  in  that  vicinity  and  you  can  ride  with  me  just 
as  well  as  not.  Tom  Hartnagel  and  Pete  Prantman  are 
going  to  settle  off  and  I  want  to  see  the  traitor  get  his 
deserts  from  a  Union  soldier." 

The  speaker  was  Doctor  Heifer,  and  he  whom  he  ad- 
dressed was  Squire  Samuel  Zweispringer.  They  had 
met  in  front  of  "  The  People's  Hotel." 

"  Solomon  was  a  pretty  wise  man,"  answered  the 
squire,  "  and  he  said  that  '  he  that  meddleth  with  strife 
belonging  not  to  him  is  like  one  that  taketh  a  dog  by  the 
ears.'  " 

"  I  agree,  squire,  and  I'll  be  plagued  if  I  meddle  with 
this  strife ;  but  I  do  want  to  see  Hartnagel  take  the 
Prantman  dog  by  the  ears  and  pinch  them  till  he  yelps 
for  mercy.  Besides,  if  any  bones  get  broken,  I  will  be 
on  hand  to  set  them." 

"  Well,  doctor,  I  had  some  notion  of  going  before  you 
spoke,  and  as  I  see  that  I  may  be  of  some  use  in  the  way 
of  keeping  you  out  of  trouble,  I'll  ride  up  with  you." 

"  All  right,  squire ;  I'll  be  at  your  door  at  twelve 
sharp." 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  133 

Accordingly  at  that  hour  the  two  friends  left  the  vil- 
lage. It  was  early  in  March,  1862,  and  the  air  was  raw. 
Still,  the  snow  was  melting  fast  and  there  was  plenty  of 
tough  limestone  mud. 

"  It's  going  to  be  a  big  vendue,  squire,"  remarked 
HeKer,  as  they  jogged  along.  '•'  You  see  Yokkle's  wife 
was  sick  very  long  and  after  she  died  he  seemed  to  lose 
heart,  and  so  he's  going  to  quit  farming  and  is  selling 
off  everything." 

The  sale  included  all  the  live  stock  and  agricultural 
implements  usually  found  on  a  first-class  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  farm,  besides  a  quantity  of  grain  and  some  house- 
hold goods.  It  was,  in  the  phrase  of  the  country,  "  a 
big  vendue."  And  among  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  of 
South-eastern  Pennsylvania  such  an  one  is  not  the  tame, 
milk-and-water  affair  that  one  sees,  for  example,  in  New 
York  State.  Oh,  no !  Thousands  of  people  gather 
from  far  and  near  —  not  only  men  and  boys,  but  girls 
also,  and  women  of  all  ages.  Frequently  the  school  in 
the  neighborhood  is  compelled  to  close  up  in  the  after- 
noon for  lack  of  pupils,  as  John  Hinton's  at  Haltfest  did 
this  very  day. 

Hucksters  to  the  number  of  a  dozen  or  more  often 
attend,  and  vend  not  only  candies,  oysters,  cakes,  cigars 
and  soft  drinks,  but  whiskey  and  other  intoxicants. 
Numbers  of  women  —  very  respectable  women  too  — 
can  always  be  seen  on  such  occasions  soliciting  their 
male  friends  and  acquaintances  to  treat  them  to  candy, 
ground-nuts  and   moshey;  and  the  popularity  of  these 


134  BNEIVHES   IN   THE   REAR  ; 

women  is  supposed  to  be  in  direct  proportion  to  the 
size  of  the  bag  of  sweetmeats  and  peanuts  they  have  in 
this  way  secured. 

In  the  barnyard  is  always  scattered  a  liberal  quantity 
of  straw  over  a  wide  space,  and  on  this  the  lads  and 
young  men  play  games  of  ball,  wrestle,  jump  and  throw 
somersaults.  Not  seldom,  too,  after  the  liquor  has  been 
circulating  pretty  freely,  there  are  rough-and-tumble 
fights.  Often  indeed  these  are  preconcerted  affairs. 
Young  men  having  difficulties  requiring  settlement  by 
the  exercise  of  brute  force,  adjourn  such  adjustment  to 
a  prominent  country  sale  and  thus  make  sure  of  having 
a  cloud  of  witnesses  to  their  prowess,  if  not  their 
victory.  In  such  cases  it  is  known  for  miles  around 
who  are  to  settle  differences  and  where  it  is  to  be  done. 
Sometimes  the  principal  encounter  will,  as  it  were,  lead 
up  to  one  or  two  spontaneous  oneSj  enlivening  matters, 
especially  the  sale  of  liquors,  very  much. 

When  Doctor  Heifer  and  Squire  Zweispringer  reached 
the  top  of  the  hill  overlooking  the  valley  in  which  the 
ShiflBer  place  was  located,  they  saw  that  an  unusual 
number  of  people  were  gathered  around  the  buildings. 

'•  Ho  !  "  exclaimed  the  doctor ;  "  what  a  crowd ! 
Half  of  them  have  come  on  account  of  the  expected 
scrimmage  between  Hartnagel  and  Prantman." 

•'It's  bad,"  said  the  squire,  "and  it  seems  strange 
that  so  many  persons  who  are  commonly  so  law-abiding 
should  countenance  these  things." 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  135 

"Like  you  and  me,  for  instance,"  answered  Heifer 
laughing  and  nudging  the  squire  with  his  elbow.  In 
due  time  they  reached  their  destination  and  mingled 
with  the  crowd.  Hucksters  were  present  in  abundance 
and  found  plenty  of  customers.  The  sale  had  begun 
and  the  auctioneer  was  now  disposing  of  the  wagons  and 
sleds. 

An  auctioneer  is  expected  to  be  witty  and  his  jokes 
are  laughed  at  and  applauded  more  than  those  of  the 
clown  at  a  circus.  The  presiding  genius  at  this  sale 
was  famous  in  his  callmg  and  deserves  special  men- 
tion. His  name  was  Rex  —  Abraham  Rex.  He  stood 
six  feet  two  in  his  stockings  and  his  voice  was  as  his 
height.  His  jokes  were  considered  remarkably  good. 
He  knew  everybody  and  secured  higher  prices  for  his 
goods  than  any  other  auctioneer  in  the  country. 

To-day  he  wore  a  great  fur  cap,  top-boots  and  long 
overcoat,  and  at  the  moment  he  is  introduced  to  the 
reader  he  was  standing  on  the  wagon  about  to  be  sold, 
in  the  middle  of  the  big  barn-floor.  The  crowd  stood 
on  the  floor  and  the  hay  in  the  mows  on  either  side  of 
him.  His  eyes  seemed  to  be  in  every  place.  He  re- 
peated the  bids  both  in  English  and  Pennsylvania 
German  and  the  glibness  of  his  tongue  was  simply 
amazmg.  Pen  cannot  describe  it.  Alfred  Jingle  would 
have  stood  dumb  in  his  presence ! 

"  You  good  people,"  he  began,  raising  his  stentorian 
voice  and  looking  around  with  a  sort  of  comical  leer, 
"what  is  bid  for  this  here  first-class  wagon ?wie  feel? 


136  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAE  ; 

is  two  hundred  dollars?  zwe  liunnert?  it's  cheap  at 
three  hundred  —  cost  more  —  new  last  year  ;  wie  feel  is 
gebote  ?  —  fifty  dollars,  by  half  a  dozen — fifty — fuf-zig — 
sixty  —  sechzig  —  siewezig  —  seventy  —  eighty  — achzig 

—  ninety  dollars,  oUars,  ollars  —  n-i-n-e-t-y  dollars 
on  —  ly  —  all  done  at  ninety  ? —  take  a  five  dollar  bid  — 
finf  daler  gebot  —  finf  —  und  —  neunzig  —  ninety-five  — 
throw  in  that  whiskey-jug  over  there,  that'll  make  Spar- 
ger there  bid  ! — (great  laughter  at  Ad's  expense) — zu 
wolf  el  —  last  a  hundred  years  yet  if  you  don't  use  it ! — • 
a  hunnert  daler  —  one  hundred  —  a  hunnei't  daler,  aler, 
aler,  gebote  —  take  a  one  dollar  bid  and  throw  in  Rex 
in  the  bargain  and  he's  worth  half  a  dollar  for  he's  a 
King  —  one  hundred  and  one,  by  six  —  a  hunnert  un 
anes  —  its  all  good,  better  than  Baltzer's  whiskey  and 
that's  bad  good  —  one  hundred  and  two  —  three  —  four 

—  a  hunnert  un  fhif  —  keep  it  up  —  why  this  wagon's  a 
self -oiler  —  nemm  en  f  uf  zig  cent  gebot  now  —  one  hun- 
dred five  fifty  —  f ufzig  —  fifty  —  it  goes  almost  of  it- 
self —  Wolfenbittler's  mule  could  draw  it  up  Outlook 
Hill  easy  — (great  laughter,  for  the  animal  in  question 
was  a  mere  skeleton) —  I'm  a  man  of  truth  and  won't 
be  laughed  at  by  nobody  — (a  voice  :  '  Go  it,  Rex !  ') — 
going  —  going  —  one  hundred  and  four  dollars  —  just 
in  time,  as  the  man  said  when  the  locomotive  ran  over 
him  —  one  hundred  four  fifty,  by  three  —  you  begin  to 
see  the  worth  of  this  here  wagon  —  take  twenty-five 
cent  bid  if  you  hurry  yourselves  —  one  hundred  four 
seventy-five  —  can't  dwell,  as  the  elephant    said  when 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUAEED.  137 

he  fell  on  the  little  boy  —  a  hunnert  finf  daler  —  I'll 
say  it  over  again,  like  Mr.  Dox  his  text  —  one  hundred 
five  —  big  enough  for  Zweispringer  there  to  hold  court 
in  —  a  hunnert  finf  un  a  fertel  —  fertel,  ertel,  ertel  — 
bid,  you  Undertaker  Schmucker  here,  it'll  hold  all  Doc- 
tor Heifer's  dead  patients  —  one  hundred  five  fifty  — ■ 
drei  fertel  —  drei  fertel  —  what  a  tongue  it's  got,  a  good, 
tough,  long  tongue,  like  a  woman's  —  (great  laughter) 
—  all  fertig?  —  all  done  at  one  hundred  and  five 
dollars  seventy-five  cents  ?  —  all  fertig?  —  fair  notice 
a  -  n  -  d  fair  s-a-l-e  —  going  — -go  -  ing  —  once  — 
and  twice  —  un  drei  mohl  —  g-o-n-e  —  to  Mike 
Hahn  I  " 

At  this  point  there  was  a  great  commotion  among 
the  crowd  on  the  straw  in  front  of  the  barn,  and  voices, 
boisterous  enough  for  some  time  already,  suddenly  grew 
very  loud.  Pete  Prantman  and  Jake  Zellon  had  come 
to  the  sale  early,  and  the  former  actually  treated  Sparger 
and  several  other  loafers  to  drinks  —  the  first  time  he 
was  ever  known  to  manifest  such  liberality.  But  Hart- 
nagel  did  not  come.  The  afternoon  was  beginning  to 
wear  away,  and  still  he  did  not  appear.  In  conse- 
quence Pete  was  in  high  feather  and  became  quite 
boastful.  He  took  part  in  the  wrestling  bouts,  and 
easily  threw  every  fellow  venturesome  enough  to  try  con- 
clusions with  him.  This  superiority  soon  led  those 
who  did  not  like  him  and  were  jealous  of  his  su- 
premacy to  make  exasperating  remarks. 


138  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR  ; 

"  Say  once,  Davy,  has  Schnapps  got  all  of  Pete's  coat 
out  of  his  throat  yet  ?  "  cried  one  bold  spirit  to  Doctor 
Heifer's  lad. 

"Just  got  the  last  of  it  out  yesterday,"  replied  Davy, 
relying  for  safety  on  the  fact  that  he  was  only  a  boy ; 
"  he  's  had  fits  of  choking  since  last  October,  but  the 
doctor  gave  him  an  emetic,  and  that  fixed  him  all  right. 
Isn't  that  so,  Schnapps  ?  " 

The  dog,  who  was  nearly  always  with  his  younger 
master,  wagged  his  tail  and  barked  an  affirmative,  at 
the  same  time  looking  as  if  he  would  like  to  finish  the 
work  begun  some  months  ago. 

"  Shout  for  Abe  Lincoln  and  the  niggers,  Pete ;  you 
took  an  oath  you  would,  "  came  another  voice,  causing 
much  amusement. 

Pete  turned  toward  the  speaker,  and  then  another 
tormentor  behind  him  yelled :  "  Let 's  see,  was  Tom 
Hartnagel  made  dead  in  the  war  ?  " 

"  I  think  not ;  I  saw  him  and  Sallie  together  at  Halt- 
fest  last  evening,"  some  one  responded. 

"  Pete,"  said  another  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  crowd, 
••'  I  think  you  'd  better  once  a  little  go  up  in  the  bam  to 
your  pap." 

Pete  was  like  a  wild  animal  at  bay  and  Zellon  for  the 
moment  was  not  there  to  help  him.  He  glared  on  his 
tormentors  but  knew  that  if  he  attacked  one,  a  dozen 
would  run  to  the  rescue.  He  was  fairly  desperate. 
He  was  set  at  naught  and  realized  that  something  bold 
must  be  done  at  once.       In  an  unlucky  moment  he  re- 


OE,     A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE   SQUARED.  139 

solved  to  try  the  virtue  of  brave  words  and  trust  to  good 
fortune  to  help  him  through. 

"A  lot  of  lies  has  been  told  about  me  by  nigger- 
worshipers  like  Charlie  Ruth  von,"  he  yelled  hotly, 
"  and  you  fellows  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourselves  to 
repeat  them  and  encourage  black  Abolitionists  like  that 
Yankee  of  a  Chetwynde.  Sal  Vonneida,"  he  went  on 
raising  his  voice  still  higher,  "•  made  up  a  good  many  of 
them,  and  Tom  Hartnagel  repeated  them,  and  he  was 
afraid  to  coijie  here  to-day,  and  if  he  had  come  and 
sauced  me,  he  would  have  learned  something  he 
would  n't  have  liked.     Sacrament  once  more  !  " 

"  There  he  comes  !  There  comes  Tom  Hartnagel !  " 
shouted  the  crowd  gleefully.  Tom  came  through  the 
orchard  back  of  the  barn  and  hence  was  not  discovered 
until  he  emerged  from  behind  the  angle  of  the  building 
and  was  close  by.  He  was  as  good-natured  a  young 
fellow  as  lived,  and  was  belligerent  only  where  his 
friends  or  the  Union  cause  was  concerned.  He  was 
broad-shouldered,  strongly  built  and  stood  a  little  above 
medium  height ;  he  had  a  fair  complexion,  blue  eyes 
and  a  square,  firm  chin ;  he  was  fearless,  and  when  very 
attentive  or  in  a  hostile  mood  had  the  habit  of  folding 
his  brawny  arms  on  his  ample  chest.  Except  for  his 
politics  he  would  have  been  popular,  and  even  as  it  was 
he  had  warm  friends  among  his  political  opponents.  Hav- 
ing been  wounded  in  battle  and  a  prisoner,  and  being  the 
first  returned  soldier,  he  was  something  of  a  hero  and  the 
story  of  his  adventures  was  listened  to  with  great  attention. 


140  ENElkHES  EST   THE   REAR  ; 

He  stopped  under  the  "  oyershoot "  of  the  big 
Schweitzer  barn  and  in  a  pleasant  way  began  to  con- 
verse with  Doctor  Heifer  and  Squire  Zweispringer. 

"  I  had  the  misfortune  to  stub  my  foot  against  a  stone 
this  morning,"  said  he,  "•  and  it  made  my  old  wound  feel 
so  sore  that  for  awhile  I  thought  I  must  give  up  coming, 
but  that  rebel  over  there  —  what  are  they  shouting 
about  ?  " 

"  Better  not  mind  him,  else  both  the  doctor  here  and 
I  may  have  something  to  do  before  it's  all  over,"  said 
the  prudent  squire.  At  this  moment  an  officious  young 
man  came  running  up  to  Hartnagel. 

"  Pete  Prantman  over  there  wants  to  learn  you  some- 
thing you  don't  know,"  said  he. 

Tom  gave  no  heed  to  this  speech,  for  Sallie  Vonneida, 
who  had  looked  rather  lonely  in  her  lover's  absence,  now 
came  up,  greeted  him  with  a  smile,  then  frowned  and 
whispered  something  in  his  ear. 

"  I'll  learn  him  to  call  you  a  liar ! "  exclaimed  Tom 
angrily  ;  "  Sallie,  just  stay  here  a  few  minutes  and  when 
I  come  back  I'll  buy  a  whole  peck  of  ground-nuts  of 
Moddle,"  saying  which  he  left  his  sweetheart  and  made 
his  way  through  the  crowd  toward  Pete  Prantman. 

"  Stand  your  ground,"  whispered  Zellon  who  by  this 
time  had  returned  to  the  side  of  his  principal,  "  and  if  I 
see  you're  getting  the  worst  of  it,  I'll  show  them  a  trick." 

Pete  felt  like  a  general  who  is  afraid  to  .fight  but 
knows  that  retreat  means  disgrace.  He  was  possessed 
with  the  courage  born  of  desperation  and  with  ashen 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  141 

face  awaited  the  approach  of  his  adversary.  In  size  and 
strength  the  advantage  was  decidedly  with  him,  but 
Tom  Avas  older  and  heavier,  and  moreover  had  the 
serene  confidence  resulting  from  true  coui-age  and  the 
conviction  of  right. 

"  Pete,"  said  Tom  stepping  in  front  of  his  enemy  and 
squaring  his  arms  in  his  favorite  fashion  after  throw- 
ing away  his  hat,  coat  and  vest,  "  I  expect  to  be  near 
neighbor  to  you  after  April  1st,  and  so  we  had  better 
settle  our  differences  now.  Then  we  can  be  good  friends 
after  I  go  to  Yankee  Chetwynde's  place.  You  wished 
me  dead,  but  I'm  here  alive  and  hearty,  only  a  bit  lame, 
and  so  I  forgive  you  that ;  you  talked  rebel,  but  two  boys 
and  a  dog  settled  with  you  for  that  and  some  other 
things  too  and  we'll  call  that  square ;  but  you  talked 
about  a  young  lady  whose  brother  isn't  here  to  defend 
her,  and  you  just  now  called  another  girl,  who  I'm  here 
to  speak  for,  a  liar,  and  if  you  don't  take  it  all  back  here 
and  now,  by  my  sex  one  of  us  must  take  a  licking.  Be 
quick,  Pete,  and  talk  up  like  a  man !  " 

"  Go  and  let  yourself  in,  Pete ;  don't  let  the  nigger- 
soldier  scare  you,"  cried  several  voices.  Pete  had  more 
than  the  average  amount  of  race  inertia.  If  he  had 
had  time  for  a  few  moments'  thought,  he  probably  would 
have  complied  with  Hartnagel's  humiliating  terms,  but 
as  it  was  he  could  not  make  any  movement  either  of 
assent  or  refusal  and  simply  stared  blankly  at  his  ad- 
versary. The  latter  construed  this  as  sullen  defiance 
and  acted  accordingly. 


142  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAR  J 

In  spite  of  the  pain  the  effort  cost  him  he  sprung  at 
Prantman's  throat.  Missing  that,  he  seized  him  by  the 
shoulders  and  in  a  moment  the  two  combatants  were  en- 
gaged in  a  fierce  struggle.  Tom  succeeded  in  winning 
the  fall  but  Pete's  superior  strength  enabled  him  to  turn 
his  enemy  over  in  a  twinkling.  The  crowd  surged 
around,  hissed  on  the  fighters,  exhorted  them  to  "  let 
themselves  in,"  and  threw  out  like  encouraging  phrases. 
Over  and  over  the  champions  rolled,  first  one  then  the 
other  uppermost,  and  the  issue  seemed  doubtful  indeed. 
So  rapid  were  their  movements  and  so  much  occupied 
their  hands  that  for  some  time  neither  was  able  to  strike 
an  effective  blow ;  but,  permitting  Tom  to  exert  his 
force  in  turning  him  over  without  resistance  and  thus 
releasing  his  own  hands,  Pete  succeeded  in  hitting  his 
opponent  heavily  on  the  face.  Tom  was  so  confused  for 
a  moment  that  some  shouted,  "Pete's  got  him  now ; 
Tom  's  a  goner  this  time  !  "  Even  Sallie  Vonneida,  who 
with  a  bevy  of  her  female  friends  stood  under  the 
"  overshoot "  of  the  barn,  and  who  had  unlimited  confi- 
dence in  her  lover's  strength  and  prowess,  looked  very 
anxiovis. 

But  a  man  who  had  fought  rebels  and  given  and  re- 
ceived blows  without  flinching,  was  not  to  be  conquered 
easily.  Recovering  himseK  as  Pete  was  in  the  act  of 
again  turning  him  over,  Tom  clutched  Pete's  throat 
fairly  and  held  on  despite  blows  and  struggles.  It  was 
very  evident  that  in  a  few  moments  Pete  would  be 
obliged  to  surrender.     The  excitement  was  at  its  height 


OR,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  148 

wTien  suddenly  the  startling  cry  of  fire  was  raised.  In 
that  part  of  the  barnyard  farthest  from  the  buildings  the 
straw  was  in  a  blaze  and  the  flames  were  rapidly  spread- 
ing. Instantly  a  rush  was  made  to  put  out  the  fire  and 
the  belligerents  were  trampled  upon  in  the  confusion,  but 
Hartnagel  held  on  to  his  adversary  and  called  on  him  to 
say,  "  Enough."  Pete  nodded  an  afiirmative  as  well  as 
he  could,  when  Tom  at  once  let  go  and  got  up,  paying 
no  further  attention  to  him. 

Fortunately  Avhat  little  air  was  stirring  was  away 
from  the  buildings,  and  by  means  of  damp  straw,  of 
which  there  was  an  abundance,  the  fire  was  extinguished 
in  a  very  short  time.  But  when  the  excitement  was 
over  Pete  Prantman  and  Jake  Zellon  both  had  disap- 
peared from  the  scene.  By  common  consent  the  contest 
was  decided  to  be  a  draw,  for  no  one  save  Tom  had 
witnessed  Pete's  acknowledgment  of  defeat.  Hartnagel 
himself  was  so  lame  that  Doctor  Heifer  kindly  volun- 
teered to  carry  him  home  in  his  buggy,  hardly  giving 
Ad  Sparger  time  to  say  to  his  patron  :  "  Let's  drink  one." 

The  next  day  Tom  was  quite  ill,  and  for  many  days 
the  doctor  had  occasion  to  visit  him  professionally  at 
his  father's  house.  Squire  Zweispringer's  prophecy  being 
thus  in  part  verified. 

Sharp  Billy  and  another  lad  declared  that  Jake  Zellon 
dropped  a  lighted  match  into  the  straw  when  all  eyes 
were,  as  he  supposed,  turned  away  from  him,  but  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  one  or  two  men  and  boys  were 
smoking  at  different  times  it  might  have  been  difficult  to 


144  ENEMIES    IN   THE   BEAR. 

prove  that  lie  set  the  fire ;  and  inasmuch  as  no  damage 
was  done  except  that  the  auctioneer  and  the  bidders 
were  disturbed  for  a  time,  the  matter  was  not  investiga- 
ted. But  Zellon  heard  of  rumors  of  prosecution  and 
deemed  it  wise  to  go  away  for  a  time.  The  day  follow- 
ing the  sale  at  Shiffler's  he  disappeared,  and  for  many 
days  was  not  seen  in  the  neighborhood. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

AN  OLD  MILL,  AND  SOJMETHING  THAT  OCCURRED  THERE. 

In  a  solitary  defile  of  the  South  Mountain  some  three 
miles  south-west  of  Haltfest  and  more  than  a  mile  from 
the  open,  stood  Christian  Mehlhuber's  gristmill.  It 
was  located  on  a  small  mountain  stream,  which  at  this 
point  -was  quite  rapid  and  thus  afforded  ample  power  to 
drive  the  machinery  without  involving  much  labor  and 
expense  to  direct  it  to  its  work.  This  fact  had  probably 
decided  the  site  of  the  mill  in  the  first  place. 

The  building  was  an  old-fashioned  stone  structure  of 
medium  size,  with  walls  of  immense  thickness  and 
timbers  of  corresponding  weight  and  quality.  On  the 
ground  floor  were  the  great  boxes  that  received  the 
crushed  grain,  the  sifters,  and  the  sacks  containing  the 
flour  and  "  chop  ".  A  dark  apartment  on  the  same  floor, 
but  a  little  lower,  held  the  wheels  and  belts  that  moved 
the  millstones  and  the  other  machinery.  On  the  second 
story  was  laid  the  grain  when  brought  to  the  mill,  and 
here  also  the  "  mill-room,"  as  it  is  called  by  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Gei-mans,  was  located.  It  was  simply  a  small 
apartment  roughly  partitioned  off  from  the  rest  of  the 
space,  containing  a  stove,  a  rude  writing  desk,  a  ruder 
bed  for  the  miller's  apprentice,  two  guns,  a  few  broken 
chairs  and  stools  and  some  smaller  articles. 


146  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR. 

The  mill  was  a  custom-mill,  that  is,  farmers  brought 
their  grain  to  be  ground  and  for  pay  the  miller  re- 
tained a  tenth  of  every  bushel,  the  portion  thus  taken 
being  called  toll.  Some  of  its  patrons  lived  in  the 
valley  beyond  the  opening  of  the  defile,  but  the  majority 
were  dwellers  on  the  mountain.  These  were  contemptu- 
ously called  "  Bergknibbel  "  —  mountain-lubbers  —  by 
the  inhabitants  of  the  valley,  on  account  of  their  greater 
simplicity  and  more  primitive  manners.  When  custom 
was  plenty  the  mill  would  often  grind  until  far  into  the 
night,  and,  the  master  having  retired,  the  apprentice  was 
glad  to  have  company  to  keep  him  awake  and  help  while 
away  the  intervals  when  not  engaged  in  attending  to 
the  grinding.  Thus  it  happened  that  of  an  evening  the 
little  mill-room  became  the  gathering-place  for  certain 
choice  spirits  of  the  vicinity  who  did  not  have  the  com- 
forts of  even  a  groceiy  or  a  tavern  handier  than  Halt- 
fest.  Here  they  played  cards,  smoked,  drank  apple-jack 
and  discussed  politics,  religion,  agriculture  and  a  host  of 
other  topics  relating  to  things  above  and  things  below. 
Questions  which  the  learned  world  has  held  as  beyond 
solution  and  others  that  have  engaged  the  keenest  intel- 
lects for  ages,  were  solved  in  this  humble  apartment  of 
the  mountain  mill. by  these  Solons  with  a  celerity  that 
would  have  filled  with  amazement  the  learned  societies 
of  Boston,  to  say  nothing  of  those  of  New  York. 

For  instance,  on  a  certain  Sunday  the  Rev.  Ortho 
Dox  preached  on  the  Fall  of  Man,  and  on  the  following 
night  the  mill-room  philosophers  tackled  the  interesting 


OK,    A   GOLDEN   CIBCLE   SQUAEED.  147 

question  of  what  language  Adam  and  Eve  spoke  in  the 
garden  of  Eden. 

"  What  language,  you  dumb-heads  ?  "  said  a  great, 
robust  young  fellow  by  the  name  of  Pfannkuchen ;  "what 
language  are  we  talking  now,  I  wonder  ?  What  language 
would  they  talk  but  German  and  Pennsylvania  Dutch?" 

'•  But  how  can  you  prove  it  ? "  asked  a  doubting 
Thomas. 

"  Prove  it,  indeed ! "  retorted  the  oracle  contempt- 
uously as  he  sent  up  clouds  of  smoke  from  his  corncob 
pipe.  "  Of  course  you  can't  read  else  you  wouldn't  ask 
such  a  dumb  question.  —  Rambeutel,  hand  me  that  Ger- 
man Bible  which  you  have  here  to  keep  ghosts  and 
witches  off.  Now  look  once  here  :  —  here  in  the  First 
Book  of  Moses  in  the  third  chapter  and  the  twelfth 
verse  Adam  says  " —  and  he  read  slowly  and  with  much 
difficulty,  spelling  out  a  word  every  now  and  then :  — 
'  Das  Weih  das  du  mir  zugesellet  hast,  gab  mir  von  dem 
Baum,  und  ich  asz ; '  and  in  the  very  next  verse  Eve 
says :  — '  Die  ScJilange  hetrog  mieh  also,  dasz  ich  asz,'' 
and  isn't  that  German  ?  And  of  course  as  they  both 
were  talking  to  the  Lord  we  would  expect  they'd  use 
high  German,  but  when  they  spoke  just  with  each  other 
they  simply  used  Pennsylvania  Dutch,  even  as  preachers 
who  use  high  German  in  the  pulpit  often  speak  Penn- 
salvania  Dutch  when  they're  out  of  it.  What  other 
language  was  there  for  them  to  speak,  I'd  like  to  know? 
Isn't  Pennsylvania  Dutch  the  language  ?  " 

And  as  the  speaker  at  the  end  of  his  remarks  looked 


148  ENE-MIES   IN   THE   REAR; 

around  on  the  company  with  that  hard,  decisive  stare 
which  is  equal  to  a  dozen  periods  in  punctuation  and, 
when  backed  by  plenty  of  "^villing  muscle,  as  in  the 
present  instance,  more  powerful  than  argument,  the  mo- 
mentous question  was  regarded  as  closed  and  the  dis- 
putants all  believed  that  Eve  went  up  to  Adam  saying: 
— "  Do,  Adam,  is  en  ferchterlicher  shaner  Appel,  — 
nem'mohl  en  Schtick  !  "* 

When  the  war-cloud  arose  and  began  to  grow,  how- 
ever, and  the  harsh  growling  of  the  war-god  was 
heard  in  the  distance,  the  more  usual  topics  of  discus- 
sion were  the  chances  of  war,  the  methods  of  conduct- 
ing one  and  the  results.  The  horrors  of  the  battle- 
field and  the  ravages  of  a  lawless  soldiery  were  depicted 
by  an  old  German  soldier  who  sometimes  formed  one 
of  the  company.  And  when  war  actually  began,  when 
one  whom  nearly  all  of  them  knew  personally  came 
home  with  a  wound  upon  his  person  received  in  deadly 
conflict,  and  when  later  a  draft  was  spoken  of  not  only 
as  a  remote  possibility  but  as  a  near  probability,  an  in- 
describable feeling  of  dread  and  insecurity  crept  over 
these  mountain  philosophers. 

On  Friday  night,  July  4th,  1862,  the  mill-room 
contained  eight  or  ten  of  its  usual  visitors.  Several  sat 
on  William  Rambeutel's,  Mehlhuber's  apprentice's,  bed 
and  the  rest  on  stools.  Some  were  smoking,  and  apple- 
jack was  not  lacking.  The  weather  was  very  warm, 
and  the  door,  with  the  two  little  windows  looking  out 

»  "  Here,  Adam,  is  an  awful  nice  apple,  —  take  once  a  slice  I " 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  149 

on  the  tail-race  and  the  grove  below  the  mill,  was 
open. 

"  I  was  down  in  Reading  to-day  to  hear  the  cannons 
shoot "  said  Andrew  Pfannkuchen,  "  and  they  say  that 
black  Abe  is  calling  for  yet  more  soldiers.  " 

"Is  that  clean  down  honest  true  now?"  asked  another 
young  fellow  whose  name  was  Kleinkammer,  giving  a 
tremendous  pull  at  his  pipe. 

"  Verily  just  as  sure  as  you  go  to  see  Betsy  Braun- 
miller,"  responded  Andrew;  "and  they  said  too  that 
McClellan  was  getting  tlirashed  ugly  at  Richmond  and 
that  his  soldiers  was  killed  by  thousands  and  the  rest 
wounded,  or  dying  like  flies  from  fever  in  the  swamps. 
It's  bad." 

"  Boy's,  make  yourselves  ready,  we'll  all  have  to  go," 
said  a  third  speaker. 

"  And  if  we  must,"  added  a  fourth,  "  we'll  put  in 
Rambeutel  as  our  captain  and  then  we'll  soon  take 
Richmond,  by  Schinner  !  " 

This  remark,  made  just  as  the  apprentice  came  in 
from  changing  grists,  caused  loud  laughter,  for  William 
was  known  to  be  afraid  of  his  own  shadow ;  but  they 
noticed  at  once  that  his  hands  trembled  and  that  his 
face  was  white  as  the  dust  on  his  garments,  and  their 
merriment  quickly  ceased. 

"  What's  wrong  ?  Did  you  see  something  ?  "  they 
asked  excitedly. 

"Look  here,  boys,"  he  said  in  a  hoarse  whisper  look- 
ing around  to  see  who  was  present,  "we're  all  friends 


150  ENEMIES    IN     THE    REAB  ; 

and  I  want  yon  to  stand  by  me  now.  I  had  jnst 
shoveled  the  last  '■'■  chop  "  into  the  bag  when  I  saw  by  the 
light  of  the  lamp  on  the  wall  somebody  with  a  gun 
dodge  behind  the  bags  around  the  big  centre-post." 

"  Do  you  know  Avho  it  was  ?  "  they  asked  in  low  tones. 

"  I'm  not  sure,  and  why  he  should  be  sneaking 
around  here  I  don't  know,"  replied  Rambeutel. 

"  Was  it  the  witch's  boy  ?  "  inquired  Pfannkuchen. 

"I  say  nothing,"  answered  William. 

"  If  it  was  you  needn't  wonder,"  said  the  other,  "for 
he's  everywhere  like  the  devil  himself,  and  you'd  better 
look  out,  for  he's  up  to  nothing  good,  not  handy." 

"Did  you  see  which  way  he  went?"  asked  Klein- 
kammer. 

"  I'm  not  sure,  but  I  think  toward  the  little  door 
of  the  wheel-room." 

"  I  think  you  didn't  wait  long  to  look,  the  light  was 
too  bad,"  said  Kleinkammer  sneeringiy. 

"  Say,  boys,"  said  Pfannkuchen  getting  up  from  the 
bed  where  he  had  been  lounging,  and  speaking  in  a 
whisper,  "here's  a  chance  for  us  to  practice  catching 
rebels.  If  what  Rambeutel  says  he  saw  is  in  the  wheel- 
room,  we  can  catch  it  may  be.      Let's  do  it !  " 

Andrew  had  his  own  suspicions  as  to  whom  Ram- 
beutel had  seen,  and  here  was  an  opportunity  to  win 
a  reputation  for  courage.  In  his  way  he  was  bold 
enough,  and  an  adventure  of  this  kind  just  suited  him. 
His  companions  would  gladly  have  dissented  but  the 
fear  of  ridicule  restrained  them. 


OE,     A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  151 

"  Rambeutel  is  tlie  one  to  have  the  benefit,  and  he 
must  go  first,  or  we'll  go  home  and  leave  him  alone," 
said  Pfannkuchen.  So  a  procession  was  formed,  the 
apprentice  very  reluctantly  going  before.  Unarmed 
they  went  down  the  steps  in  the  dim  light  to  the  lower 
floor,  only  to  find  a  large  turkey  gobbler  sitting  on  the 
bags  of  "chop  "by  the  centre-post.  The  bird  had  no 
doubt  wandered  into  the  mill  about  twilight  to  seek  food, 
and  becoming  bewildered  concluded  to  tarry  there  during 
the  night.  Boisterous  laughter  greeted  the  discovery. 
Rambeutel  stopped  the  mill  and  pretended  to  be  very 
busy.  When  the  machinery  ceased  moving  their 
laughter  sounded  unearthly  in  the  quiet  building  and  to 
their  great  alarm  they  were  joined  in  their  mirth  by 
some  one  evidently  hidden  in  the  wheel-room.  Instant 
silence  followed  and  each  face  bore  the  peculiar  look 
which  under  such  circumstances  says  as  plainly  as  words 
—  "I  ain't  afraid  ;   are  yovi  ?  " 

"  I  told  you  so,"  said  the  apprentice  in  a  Ioav  whisper. 

"  Wait,"  said  Andrew,"  we  are  ten  of  us  and  it 
would  be  a  shame  to  run.  I  think  it's  nothing  that'll 
hurt  us,  not  handy  I — Give  me  once  your  lantern.  Will." 

He  went  to  the  door  leading  into  the  radkammer, 
opened  it  and  shouted  "  Halloo  "  twice,  but  there  was  no 
response.  Only  the  gentle  murmur  of  the  water  flow- 
ing in  the  tail-race  could  be  heard.  He  held  his  lantern 
down  into  the  wheel-room  and  then  beckoning  to 
Kleinkammer  the  two  descended  to  its  floor  at  the  edsre 
of  the  wheels.     They  peered  all  around  but  could  see 


k 


152  ENEMIES  UST   THE   EEAE  ; 

nothing  unusual  and  soon  returned.  In  close  procession 
the  whole  company  went  back  to  the  mill-room,  to  the 
great  relief  of  the  gobbler  which  did  not  understand  this 
intrusion  on  its  repose. 

"I  think  it  was  only  imagination  after  all,"  said 
Pfannkuchen  when  they  were  all  safe  in  the  room  again. 

"No,  it  was  too  plain,"  answered  Rambeutel. 

"  Yes,  like  the  turkey,"  retorted  Andrew. 

"  Well,  you  fellows  can  laugh  if  you  want  to,"  re- 
joined the  apprentice,  "  but  these  are  evil  times.  Is  it 
any  wonder  if  unusual  things  is  seen  and  heard  when 
men's  killed  like  cattle  and  one  doesn't  know  what  min- 
ute his  own  turn  may  come.  This  war  is  the  devil's 
work  and  if  he  shows  himself  in  certam  ways,  we  needn't 
be  surprised." 

"  Say,  may  be  that's  the  devil  down  there  on  them 
bags,"  said  one  of  the  company  desirous  to  show  his 
courage  ;    "  shall  I  bring  him  up  here  ?  " 

But  no  one  felt  like  laughmg  at  such  an  ill-timed  joke, 
and  just  then  a  loud,  penetrating  "  Ya-hoo,  y-a-h-o-o-o," 
was  heard  up  the  mountain  side,  the  sound  gradually 
dymg  away  like  a  sad  cry.  They  looked  at  each  other 
in  alarm  and  even  Pfannkuchen  was  startled. 

"It's  the  Indian,"  said  he,  "  his  grave  is  up  at  Brett- 
schneider's  cave." 

"  Yes,  you  know  he  was  heard  just  before  Fetzer  was 
murdered  in  1851,"  said  Kleinkammer  ;  "  they  say  he 
is  never  heard  except  when  something  bad  is  going  to 
happen  in  the  neighborhood,"   and   the  speaker's  voice 


OE,     A    GOLDEISr    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  153 

trembled  as  if  the  calamity  were  already  close  at 
hand. 

"  Make  that  door  shut,"  said  he  who  wanted  to  bring 
up  the  turkey. 

"I  tell  you,  boys,"  said  Pfannkuchen  after  they  all 
had  taken  a  di^ink  of  apple-jack  out  of  a  large  black  jug, 
"  evil  is  coming  to  some  one  we  know,  take  care  now ! 
Yankee  Chetwynde's  daughter  is  home  again  and  they 
say  Charlie  Ruthvon  is  coming  home  on  furlough  soon 
too,  and  IVe  been  told  he  Avrote  to  Tom  Hartnagel  that 
he'll  shoot  Pete  Prantman  for  his  nonsense  with  Blanche 
Chetwynde  last  fall." 

At  that  moment  who  should  rush  into  the  room, 
covered  with  perspiration  and  out  of  breath,  but  Pete 
himself ! 

"  You  run  in  here  as  if  a  dog  or  something  was  after 
you,"  said  the  nervous  apprentice  unwittingly  making  a 
most  unfortunate  allusion. 

"You  take  care  or  somebody  will  be  after  you,"  ex- 
claimed   Pete  flai'ing  up  in  a  moment. 

"  What's  the  matter  anyhow,  Pete,  did  you  hear  any- 
thing ?  "  asked  Pfannkuchen. 

"  I  took  a  cow  we  sold  up  to  Brettschneider's,"  re- 
plied, Pete  sitting  down  on  the  bed.  "  I  was  delayed 
by  it's  stubbornness,  and  coming  down  the  hill  just  now 
I  heard  the  Indian.-^  My  !  but  it's  hot !  " 

They  all  looked  at  each  other  significantly  and  Andrew 
winked. 

"  This  is  just  the  second  time  I  heard  him,"  continued 


154  ENEMIES   m   THE   EEAR  ; 

Pete ;  "  the  first  time  was  eleven  years  ago  just  before 
that  Fetzer  thief  was  murdered  and  old  people  says  he 
never  gives  the  whoop  except  before  something  bad 
happens." 

"  That's  what  I've  just  been  telling  them,"  said 
Kleinkammer  shivering.  He  had  barely  spoken  the  last 
word  when  clearer  than  before  "  Ya-hoo,  y-a-h-o-o, 
y-a-h-o-o-o !  "  rang  down  the  mountain  side.  They  all 
huddled  close  together  and  for  a  long  time  sat  perfectly 
silent.  It  was  now  midnight  and  the  moon  had  gone 
down. 

"  He  was  closer  this  time,"  whispered  Pfannkuchen 
at  last ;   "look  out,  boys." 

Andrew  was  braver  than  his  comrades,  but  no  less 
superstitious. 

"Pete,"  he  resumed  after  another  long  silence,  "this 
is  bad  for  somebody.  Do  you  know  Charlie  Ruthvon  is 
coming  home  soon  ?  " 

"  Donnerwetter  !  "  shouted  Pete,  his  anger  overcoming 
his  fear ;  "  I'll  be  ready  to  meet  him  and  make  it  hotter 
than  the  Southern  soldiers  ever  did ;  and  he'll  never  get 
Blanche  Chetwynde  and  he  knows  it,  and  they  say  he's 
took  up  with  a  Southern  girl  — ■  may  be  a  nigger,  because 
he  likes  them  so  good.  Rambeutel,  let  that  jug  grow  this 
way  and  then  let's  go  home." 

He  was  in  the  act  of  raising  the  vessel  to  his  lips 
when  a  noise  as  of  a  grain  of  corn  crushed  under  the 
heel  of  a  shoe  just  outside  the  mill-room  door  startled 
the    company.      They   all  rushed  out   and  by  the  dim 


OR,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  155 

light  of  the  old  lard-lamp  burning  on  the  wall  they  saw 
a  form  sliding  like  a  flash  down  the  rope  in  the  hoist- 
way.  Led  by  Pfannkuchen,  they  ran  down  the  stairs. 
All  was  quiet  there,  and  the  turkey  was  still  peacefully 
reposing  on  the  bags. 

"  Jimminy  cross  !  it  had  horns,"  said  Kleinkammer 
with  chattering  teeth.  With  rapid  steps  they  ascended 
to  the  mill-room  again. 

"Let's  go  home"  said  Prantman ;  "what  with  the 
Indian  out,  and  we  know  not  who  spymg  around,  home's 
the  best  place  for  honest  people." 

With  alacrity  they  all  agreed  to  this  and  in  a  moment 
were  gone.  The  poor  apprentice  was  in  an  agony  of 
fear.  Hastily  he  bolted  the  outer  door  and  then  the 
door  of  the  mill-room.  He  determined  to  sit  up  the 
remainder  of  the  night,  gun  in  hand. 

Taking  down  both  guns  from  the  wall,  he  laid 
one  on  the  bed's  foot  and  with  the  other  cocked  sat 
down  on  a  stool.  His  eyes  were  starting  from  his 
head  and  his  lips  were  slightly  apart  to  assist  his 
hearing.  The  light  noise  made  by  a  rat  running 
over  the  floor  outside  frightened  him  still  more, 
and  so  great  was  his  alarm  at  last  that  he  resolved 
to  call  Mehlhuber  on  the  plea  that  there  were 
thieves  lurking  about  the  premises.  But  in  the 
act  of  undoing  the  door  he  heard  a  low  whistle 
under  the  windows,  followed  by  a  soft  call  of 
"  Rambeutel,  say,  Rambeutel ! "  He  at  once  recog- 
nized the   voice. 


156  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR  ; 

"  Is  that  you,  Jake  ? "  he  asked,  putting  his  head 
partly  out  of  one  of  the  windows. 

"  Yes,  let  me  in,"  came  the  reply. 

Rambeutel  went  down  cautiously,  watching  lest  some 
awful  form  might  wither  him  by  its  look,  and  let  in 
Jake  Zellon.  The  request  of  the  latter  to  be  permitted 
to  remain  until  morning  was  gladly  granted. 

"  Where  do  you  come  from  ? "  asked  William  after 
they  reached  the  mill-room. 

"  I  find,"  answered  Zellon,"  that  the  talk  about  the 
fire  at  Shiffler's  has  all  blown  over  and  so  I  came  back 
again. —  Say,  have  you  any  juice  left,  Rambeutel?" 

"  Not  much ;  some  fellows  was  in  awhile.  '  Here  's 
the  jug." 

"  You  pig,"  said  Jake  shaking  the  vessel,  "  there 's 
enough  for  one,  and  I  think  I'll  be  the  one,"  and  suit- 
ing the  action  to  the  word,  he  took  a  long  draught. 
Once  started,  it  was  easy  for  the  ruffian  to  continue, 
and  drink  followed  drink.  Looseness  of  tongue  and  a 
strong  tendency  to  bestow  confidence  were  natural 
results. 

"  Pete's  figure  is  home  again,"  said  he.  "  I  saw  her 
to-night,  though  she  didn't  see  me." 

A  few  grains  of  corn  fell  on  the  floor  through  a  crack 
above. 

"  Listen !  What's  that  ? "  exclaimed  Rambeutel 
jumping  up. 

"Nothing,  only  a  rat,"  said  Zellon,  disdainfully.  "I 
see  you  are  afraid  as  much  as  ever." 


OR,      A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE  SQUARED.  157 

"  Well,  if  you'd  "  — -  the  apprentice  began  and  then 
checked  himself. —  "  Yes,"  he  resumed,  "  I  heard  she  is 
back  from  Connecticut.     What  of  it  ?  " 

"  Only  that  Pete's  going  to  let  himself  in  there  again, 
clean  down  honest,"  answered  Zellon  laughing,  "and 
he's  going  to  win  this  time  too,  or  there'll  be  a  big 
misery." 

He  lay  down  on  the  bed  but  after  a  moment  rose  up 
again  and  took  another  drink  from  the  jug. 

"  Say,  Rambeutel,  you  pig-dog  you,"  he  continued  in 
a  confidential  tone,  "  may  be  I  can  make  twenty-five 
dollars  in  one  night  soon." 

"How  so?" 

"  If  Pete  fails,"  he  replied  in  tones  plainly  indicating 
that  apple-jack,  like  some  other  liquids,  has  a  decided 
tendency  to  tangle  up  the  tongue  as  well  as  the  feet,  — 
"if  Pete  fails  with  that  Yankee  of  a  Chetwynde  girl, 
and  he  gives  me  the  word,  it  '11  be  made  light  and  hot 
somewhere  before  long  now  once  !  —  Let  that  jug  grow 
this  way  a  little." 

"  Better  take  care,  Jake ;  that 's  state's  prison  busi- 
ness," said  the  apprentice  handing  the  jug. 

"  Look  here,  you  Rambeutel,"  exclaimed  Zellon 
fiercely,  "  none  of  your  talk  about  prison  business.  You 
and  me  come  from  the  same  neighborhood  and  I  know 
that  you  broke  your  engagement  with  Vickey  Hauser 
without  cause  and  that  she  's  anxiously  looking  for  you. 
If  I  say  '  peep '  as  to  where  you  are,  you  '11  have  a 
visitor  after  you  right  soon  and  there  '11  either  be  a  wed- 


158  ENEMIES   IN    THE   EEAR  ; 

ding  or  else  more  prison  business ;  —  none  of  your  prison 
business  witli  me  !  " 

William  Rambeutel  was  much  alarmed,  for  Zellon's 
statement  was  true. 

"Zellon,  you  trust  me  and  I  '11  trust  you,"  said  he  in 
a  concihatory  tone. 

"All  right,  by  Schinner ! "  replied  Zellon  with  a 
drunken  laugh ;  "  the  juice  is  all  gone  and  I  '11  go  to  bed," 
saying  which  he  lay  down  on  the  bed,  boots  and  all,  and 
in  a  few  moments  was  snoring  heayily.  Rambeutel,  now 
feehng  secure,  also  lay  down. 

Shortly  after  all  had  become  quiet,  a  slight  but  very 
actiye  form  emerged  from  the  archway  through  which 
the  water  flowed  from  the  wheel-race. 

"  Gosh !  I  came  near  getting  fetched  by  keeping  my 
shoes  on  the  first  time  and  going  into  the  corn-grinding 
business,"  sohloquized  Sharp  Billy,  sitting  down  on  a 
stone  some  distance  from  the  mill  and  putting  on  his 
shoes.  "  I  knew  better  the  second  time.  But  if  they  'd 
caught  me  on  the  spot,  I  could  n't  have  helped  laughing 
loud  out  at  Rambeutel's  scare  at  the  turkey  and  me. 
But  he  was  too  scared  to  know  me,  and  all  the  rest  when 
I  shd  down  the  rope,  and  I  'm  safe.  And  what  fun 
there  '11  be  now  again  with  that  Prantman !  " 

His  feet  being  shod  by  this  time,  the  fortune  teller's 
boy  went  on  his  way  up  the  mountain  road  singing  in  a 
low  tone : — 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  159 

"  When  you  think  you  have  an  angel, 
You  shall  disappointed  be; 
Trust  him  not,  he  loves  you  not. 
As  you  right  soon  shall  see !  " 

He  reached  home  at  daybreak  and  at  once  recounted 
the  adventures  of  the  night  to  his  foster  mother,  and  by 
her  direction  he  next  day  communicated  to  Tom  Hart- 
nagel  those  parts  which  related  to  the  Chetwyndes  and 
Captain  Ruthvon. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

TWO   FAILUEES   AND   A   SUCCESS. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  incidents  narrated  in  the  last 
chapter,  Doctor  Heifer  met  Pete  Prantman  one  morning 
on  the  "  back  "  road. 

"  Pete,  why  don't  yon  enlist  ? "  said  he.  "  Uncle 
Sam  is  hard  pushed,  and  wants  300,000  more  of  his 
boys  to  come  and  help  him." 

"  I  ain't  Uncle  Sam's  boy ;  I'm  a  Democrat,"  replied 
Pete  petulantly. 

"  If  you  ain't  Uncle  Sam's  boy  you  ain't  a  good  Dem- 
ocrat. Every  true  man  is  Uncle  Sam's  boy,  and  hun- 
dreds of  Democrats  all  over  the  North  are  enlisting." 

"  You  ought  to  be  careful,  you  doctor,"  said  Pete 
angrily ;  "  you  get  nearly  all  your  practice  from  Demo- 
crats, because  they  are  four  to  one  of  you  black  ones,  by 
henker,  and" — grinning  hatefully,  ^ — ^"if  you  are  so 
anxious  about  Uncle  Sam,  why  don't  you  go  and  enlist 
yourself  ?  " 

"  Ho !  Pete,  that 's  a  fair  question  once,  anyhow," 
said  Heifer,  laughing ;  — "  well,  I'm  the  only  doctor 
within  three  miles  and  can't  be  spared  very  well.  If  I 
went  away,  who  'd  take  care  of  you  fellows  when  you 
have  toothache,  or  a  swollen  face,  or  a  dog-bite,  or  " — 

"  Look !     I   haven't   got   time    to    fool   around   here 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  161 

any  longer,"  interrupted  Pete  hastily,  and  away  lie 
strode  up  tlie  lane  toward  Chetwynde's  house,  arnd  as 
he  said  "  Donnerwetter  "  several  times,  unpleasant  recol- 
lections of  his  adventure  in  that  very  lane  had  no  doubt 
arisen. 

It  was  the  period  between  wheat  harvest  and  oats 
harvest,  during  which  there  is  in  these  parts  a  lull  of  a 
few  days  in  the  work  of  the  farmers.  Of  this  Pete  took 
advantage.  Every  morning  he  walked  to  the  village 
on  some  real  or  pretended  errand.  His  object  was 
to  gain  another  private  interview  with  Blanche 
Chetwynde.  He  had  such  faith  in  Katrina  Galsch's 
powers  that  he  was  sure  Captain  Ruthvon  had  ceased 
to  be  a  suitor  for  Blanche's  hand.  The  great  difficulty 
lay  in  getting  to  see  her  alone. 

On  this  particular  morning  he  had  gone  to  the  village 
as  usual.  To  his  great  delight  he  found  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chetwynde  and  Frank  all  at  the  depot  waiting  for  the 
train  to  Reading,  and  at  once  turned  away  from  the  vil- 
lage. He  knew  that  Mr.  Chetwynde's  hired  girl  had 
gone  home  quite  ill  a  few  days  before,  and  Tom  Hart- 
nagel  he  saw  busy  on  one  of  the  back  lots  as  he  came 
along.     The  w^ay  seemed  clear. 

He  bore  Doctor  Heifer's  untimely  interruption  impa- 
tiently, and  was  glad  when  the  latter's  allusion  to 
unpleasant  matters  gave  him  a  pretext  for  hurrying 
away  When  he  approached  Chetwynde's  barn  he  saw 
Yorim,  the  peddler,  drive  away  from  the  house,  and 
stepped  behind  an  angle  of  the  barn  until  the  itinerant 


162  ENEMIES  nsr  the  hear; 

merchant  was  gone.  Then  he  went  to  the  kitchen  door 
and  walked  in  without  knocking.  Finding  no  one  there, 
he  took  up  a  poker  and  rapped  on  the  stove,  and  in 
response  Blanche  appeared  in  the  dining-room  door. 
She  was  more  beautiful  than  ever.  In  her  light  sum- 
mer dress,  with  her  hair  flowing  over  her  shoulders  and 
back  she  seemed  very  charming  indeed,  even  to  Pete's 
dull  apprehension.  She  was  startled  on  seeing  her 
unexpected  visitor,  and  her  impulse  was  to  retreat. 
She  quickly  resolved,  however,  to  ascertain  what  he 
wanted,  and  remained  standing  in  the  door,  ready  to 
flee  if  he  moved  toward  her. 

"  What  do  you  wish,  Mr.  Prantman  ?  "  she  asked  as 
calmly  as  she  could  after  her  first  surprise  was  over. 
"  Do  you  wish  to  see  my  father  ?  " 

Pete  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  floor.  With  his  hat 
on  his  head,  his  thin  blue  vest,  his  short  nether  garment, 
his  heavy  shoes,  his  awkward  hands  and  his  counte- 
nance moved  alternately  by  shame  and  audacity,  he 
certainly  would  not  have  answered  as  a  model  for  an 
Adonis. 

"  No,"  said  he  in  reply  to  Blanche's  last  question, 
"  but  I  came  over  to  say  that  I'm  very  sorry  for  what 
did  happen  last  fall." 

"  It  might  have  been  worse  if  Schnapps  had  caught 
you,"  she  rephed,  unable  to  resist  the  temptation  to 
twit  her  admirer. 

"  I  don't  mean  that,"  he  said  hastily,  flushing ;  "  I 
mean  I'm  sorry  I  spoke  to  you  the  way  I  did." 


OR,     A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  163 

"  So  am  I,  Mr.  Prantman,  and  I  hope  you'll  never  do 
it  again." 

Pete  thought  she  did  not  seem  a  bit  cross.  He  felt 
elated  and  concluded  he  might  safely  venture  to  say  a 
very  gallant  thing. 

"  Blanche,  you  look  so  nice  !  "  he  exclaimed,  changing 
his  weight  froin  one  foot  to  the  other  and  then  back 
again  as  though  he  stood  on  a  hot  griddle ;  "  you  are 
nicer  than  one  of  mam's  big  sunflowers  !  " 

"Now,  Mr.  Prantman,  you  are  forgetting  yourself 
again,"  she  said,  ready  to  laugh  in  spite  of  her  vexa- 
tion;  "you  must  not  speak  like  that  to  me." 

"  But  we  went  to  school  together,  and  a  body  may 
speak  the  truth,  not  ?  "  he  persisted. 

"  It  isn't  always  best  to  tell  what  we  think  even  if 
it's  true,  for  it  may  not  be  pleasant,"  she  answered. 

"  Blanche,"  he  said  not  heeding  her  and  advancing  a 
single  step,  "I've  got  a  friend  who  knows  everything 
and  she  told  me  that  Charlie  Ruthvon  will  never  marry 
you  because  his  pap  is  opposed  to  it,  and  so  he's  taken 
up  with  a  girl  in  the  South  and  maybe  he  has  married 
her  by  this  time,  and  so  "  —  he  spoke  very  fast  now,  for 
Blanche  seemed  on  the  point  of  going  and  he  might 
never  have  another  chance  like  this  —  "  won't  you  be 
my  wife  once  ?  I'll  be  so  good,  you  shan't  never  milk  a 
cow  in  winter  or  put  your  hands  in  cold  water,  and  I'll 
take  you  to  the  fair  every  year,  and  I'll  " • 

Blanche  was  so  overcome  with  a  mixture  of  fear, 
anger  and  an  inclination  to    laugh  that  she  could  not 


164  ENEMIES    IN   THE   BEAR; 

find  words  to  interrupt  Pete  in  liis  declaration  thus  far, 
but  slie  now  spoke  with  spirit. 

"•  Stop,  Mr,  Prantman,  for  somebody  has  surely  been 
making  fun  of  you,  and  if  you'll  go  away  now,  I'll  not  be 
angry  with  you.  But  if  you  persist  in  talking  so,  I'll 
call  Tom  Hartnagel  whom  I  see  at  the  barn." 

"  So  you  won't  have  me  ?  "  said  her  suitor  -angrily. 

"  No,  never  ;  don't  ever  think  so  and  never  trouble 
me  again,"  answered  the  girl  trying  to  make  her  words 
as  impressive  as  possible. 

"  Donnerwetter  !  "  he  cried  fiercely,  "  I'll  show  you 
proud  Yankees  that  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  are  just 
much  better  than  you  are.  You  are  proud,"  he  con- 
tinued, growing  angrier  as  he  proceeded,  "  but  " 

He  took  several  steps  forward  and  there  is  no  telling 
what  he  might  have  said  and  done  had  not  at  that 
moment  Mr.  Chetwynde  himself  entered  the  kitchen. 
Jabez  wondered  to  find  Pete  there,  but  in  his  usual  tone 
requested  his  daughter  to  open  the  front  door  and  admit 
Mr.  Schramm,  explaining  in  a  word  that  just  before  the 
train  came  that  gentleman  had  entered  the  depot  and 
.requested  an  immediate  interview  on  business  relating 
to  the  old  iron  ore  leases,  and  that  in  consequence  he  had 
returned  with  Mr.  Schramm,  but  that  Mrs.  Chetwynde 
and  Frank  Avent  on  to  the  city.  He  then  turned  to  Pete 
and  asked  to  what  he  owed  this  visit  from  him,  and  Pete 
simply  replied  with  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  interroga- 
tive, "Huh?" 

Mr.  Chetwynde  asked  what  he  could  do  for  him  ? 


OR,    A    GOLDEJSr   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  165 

"  Nothing,"  replied  Pete  muck  abashed. 

"  Blanche,"  said  Mr.  Chetwynde  turning  to  his  daugh- 
ter, Avho  had  at  once  returned  after  showing  Mr. 
Schramm  into  the  parlor  and  handing  him  a  fan,  "  has 
Mr.  Prantman  made  known  his  wishes  to  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  father,"  she  replied  slightly  shaking  her  head 
to  indicate  that  it  were  better  not  to  pursue  the  inquiry 
at  present.  But  Mr.  Chetwyn(|fi  began  to  surmise  the 
nature  of  Pete's  visit  and  Avould  not  take  her  hint.  He 
resolved,  in  vieAV  of  the  fellow's  bad  conduct  on  former 
occasions,  to  teach  him  a  lesson  he  would  not  soon 
forget. 

"  Blanche,  has  this  young  man  been  annoying  you 
again  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  I'm  in  hopes  he  will  not  trouble  me  any  more  after 
what  I  told  him,"  she  replied  rather  evasively. 

"  Prantman,  this  must  be  stopped,"  said  Mr.  Chet- 
wynde with  much  emphasis,  "  and  I'm  sorry  to  be 
obliged  to  do  what  I  never  did  before  in  my  life,  but  I 
must  ask  you  to  leave  my  house  and  never  to  enter  it 
again  until  you  have  learned  to  behave  like  a  gentle- 
man. Never  molest  my  daughter  any  more ;  if  you  do, 
I  will  not  answer  for  the  consequences." 

Pete  was  only  too  glad  to  get  off  so  easily,  yet  to  be 
ordered  to  leave  the  house  was  galling  even  to  him.  It 
added  to  his  disappointment  and  made  him  furious. 
Once  safely  outside  the  house,  he  indulged  in  fearful 
threats  and  then  went  down  the  lane.  Tom  Hartnagel 
overheard  him  in  part,  and  Sharp  Billy,  to  whom  Tom 


166  ENElSnES    IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

related  tlie  matter  in  the  evening,  remarked  that  Pete 
was  going  into  the  hemp  business  strong. 

"Pete's  a  coward,  you  know."  said  he,  "but,"  he 
added  significantly,  "  Jake  Zellon  isn't.  Keep  both 
eyes  wide  open  and  both  fists  well  oiled." 

The  next  morning  but  one  Mr.  Chetwynde  found  a 
note  under  the  kitchen  door.     It  read  as  follows  :  — 


"  TO   YANKEE   CHETWYNDE : 

Some  of  your  property  is  in  danger.  Keep  a  sharp  watch  on  your 
barn  for  a  time.  Do  not  try  to  find  out  who  wrote  this.  Heed  its 
warning.     The  writer  is 

A  FKIEND." 


This  mysterious  communication  created  some  anxiety 
in  the  family,  and  for  about  a  week  Jabez  and  Tom 
Hartnagel  kept  diligent  watch  at  night  bat  no  one  Avas 
seen  around  the.  premises.  Mr.  Chetwynde  remarked 
at  the  end  of  that  time  that  the  note  had  probably  been 
sent  by  some  well-meaning  but  misinformed  friend,  or 
perhaps  even  by  an  enemy,  who  hoped  in  this  way  to 
cause  them  concern  and  alarm.  In  his  opinion  there 
was  no  need  for  further  watching.  Hartnagel  however 
told  him  what  Sharp  Billy  had  said  and  kept  up  the 
watch  several  nights  longer.  But  finally  he  too  began 
to  think  there  was  no  more  need  for  vigilance. 

Tom  was  wrong  this  time  though.  The  very  next 
night  after  the  watch  ceased  Doctor  Heifer  returned  home 
late  from  the  bedside  of  a  patient  living  at  the  foot  of 


OE,,    A    GOLDEN    CIECLE    SQUARED.  167 

Outlook  Hill.  He  had  reached  a  point  in  the  road  not 
far  from  where  Chetwynde's  lane  entered  it  when  his 
buggy  struck  a  large  stone,  in  consequence  of  which  a 
trace  was  broken  and  he  was  obliged  to  alight  to  mend 
the  harness.  While  thus  engaged  a  man  came  running 
across  the  field  in  the  dark,  mounted  the  fence  and 
leaped  down  into  the  ditch  by  the  road.  The  doctor's 
horse  started,  and  ran,  the  doctor  himself  was 
thrown  down  and  both  wheels  of  the  buggy  passed 
over  him. 

Fortunately  he  was  not  much  hurt,  and  jumping  up 
he  heard  an  oath  and  a  groan  and  indistinctly  saw  a  man 
limp  away  in  the  opposite  direction.  Leaving  his  horse 
and  wagon  to  take  their  chances,  he  ran  up  to  the  indi- 
vidual who  had  been  the  cause  of  the  accident  and 
asked  who  he  was  and  whether  he  was  hurt.  Another 
oath  and  groan  were  the  only  response,  but  m  a  moment 
more  the  night  was  illumined  by  a  great  sheet  of  flame 
leaping  up  from  Chetwynde's  barn,  and  the  dark  features 
of  Jake  Zellon  were  revealed. 

"  Jake,  you've  done  that  business  yonder  and  you'll 
pay  for  it,"  exclaimed  HeKer  and  then  ran  up  the  lane 
toward  the  burning  building.  The  family  were  already 
alarmed,  and  engaged  in  securing  the  safety  of  the  house. 
Fortxuiately  the  horses  and  cattle  were  in  the  pasture- 
lot.  A  few  wagons  and  harnesses  were  saved,  but  the 
fire  destroyed  everythmg  else  mcluding  the  bulk  of  the 
year's  crop  of  hay,  wheat  and  rye.  By  the  time  the 
flames  had   done    their   work  a  great  crowd  of  people 


168  ENEMIES   IN   THE   HEAR  ; 

had  gathered,  and  as  is  cominon  on  such  occasions,  specu- 
lation was  rife  as  to  the  origin  of  the  fire.  All  sorts  of 
theories  were  advanced  and  discussed. 

"  Well,"  said  Ad  Sparger,  who  saw  the  fire  on  his  way 
home  from  "  The  People's  Hotel,"  "  I've  heard  that 
Yankee  Chetwynde  had  put  a  big  lot  of  rye  in  the  barn 
very  green,  and  they  say  sometimes  it'll  take  fu*e  of 
itself." 

"  Ho ! "  said  Heifer  with  uncommon  emphasis  and 
adding  a  strong  expletive  besides,  "when  the  rye  has 
been  made  into  whiskey  and  a  man  for  years  drinks  too 
much  of  it  and  gets  soaked  through  with  it,  it  does  now 
and  then  get  on  fire  of  itseK  and  burns  up  the  man,  and 
you'd  better  look  out.  Ad,  else  you'll  burn  up  some  day 
like  this  barn  here ;  but  by  the  great  Rinaldo  Rinaldini, 
you  people,  I'm  sure  this  building  never  took  fire  of 
itseK." 

"How  do  you  mean  it  caught  fire?"  asked  our  old 
friend  Christopher  Stettler,  once  more  in  search  of 
information. 

"  A  man's  hand  put  the  fire  to  it  on  purpose,  Stett- 
ler,"   answered  Heifer. 

"Who  do  you  think  it  was?"  queried  Christopher 
again. 

"Perhaps  you'll  see  later  on,"  was  all  the  doctor 
vouchsafed  hun. 

Sharp  Billy  was  present  and  his  nose  looked  sharper 
than  ever  m  the  weird  light  of  the  smouldering  ruins. 
When  the  doctor  made  the  last  remark  Billy  came  close 


OE,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  169 

up  to  him  and  said  in  a  whisper,  "  Maybe  I'll  see  you 
to-morrow."  The  doctor  looked  at  the  bright  lad  and 
nodded  "  All  right,  Billy." 

"  Halloo,  Fetzer,  you  here  ?  Where's  Pete  ? "  he 
asked  of  Hans  Prantman's  foster  son. 

"  He's  home,  I  think ;  he  said  there  wasn't  any  use  com- 
ing as  nothing  Could  be  saved  anyhow,"  responded  Fetzer. 

"  Anyhow  it  was  only  Yankee  Chetwynde's  barn," 
said  Billy  sarcastically,  "  and  its  awful  warm  weather 
and  there  wasn't  any  vise  of  his  coming  here  and  getting 
warmer  yet." 

"  I  think  it  might  be  good  for  Pete  and  one  or  two 
others  to  continue  to  remain  home  nights,"  said  Heifer 
joining  in  the  laugh  which  followed  Billy's  sally. — 
"Billy,  you  go  home  now,  and  I'll  hunt  up  my  horse 
and  buggy  as  I  go  along." 

By  this  time  day  began  to  break  and  the  people  dis- 
persed. Toward  noon  Sharp  Billy  entered  Doctor  Hei- 
fer's office  at  Haltfest  and  was  cordially  greeted. 

"  See  here,  doctor,  here's  a  letter  for  you,  clean  do'wn 
honest,"  said  Billy  winking.  "  I  called  for  letters  about 
two  o'clock  last  night  as  I  generally  do.  The  post- 
master called  out  the  window  that  it  was  a  trifle  early, 
but  that  seeing  it  was  me  and  my  mail  was  important, 
why,  he'd  come  down  and  give  it  to  me !  I  think  he 
had  sand  in  his  eyes  yet,  for  the  letter  he  gave  me  isn't 
directed  to  me,  and  so  I  took  it  to  mam  and  she  said  it 
wasn't  hers  either  and  must  be  yours.  She  told  me  to 
bring  it  to  you  and  here  it  is." 


170  ENElVnES   IK   THE   EEAR  ; 

The  doctor  laughed  heartily  at  Billy's  humor  but  the 
lad  did  not  move  a  muscle  of  his  features.  The  letter 
was  addressed  to  "  Jacob  Zellon."  It  was  from  Zellon's 
mother  and  was  poorly  written.  It  simply  said  that  she 
was  pretty  well  and  that  as  she  depended  on  him  she 
hoped  he  would  not  get  into  trouble  again  soon. 

"  Where  was  the  postmaster  when"  he  gave  you 
this  letter,  you  young  Schwernoether  ?  "  asked  Heifer 
after  reading  the  letter  and  looking  at  the  address 
agam. 

"  By  the  bars  between  the  barnyard  and  the  lane  at 
Chetwynde's,"  answered  Billy  readily. 

"  Keep  quiet  now,  Billy,  and  may  be  it  will  be  hot 
for  somebody  soon." 

"  To  make  the  fire  burn  well  when  you  start  it,  mam 
says  I  may  help  to  work  the  bellows  at  Reading." 

"  An  right,  Billy ;  be  a  very  good  boy,"  and  with 
mutual  admiration  the  two  friends  separated. 

Great  was  the  sensation  in  Copton  to^vnship  on  the 
third  day  after  the  lire  when  it  transpired  that  Pete 
Prantman  and  Jake  Zellon  had  that  mornmg  been 
arrested  on  the  charge  of  maliciously  setting  fire  to 
Jabez  Chetwynde's  barn,  the  former  as  an  accessory 
before  the  fact.  Pete  was  released  on  bail,  but  Zellon 
could    procure  none  and    once  more  found    himself    in 

jail. 

At  the  August  term  of  court  these  men  were  tried. 
Doctor  Heifer  was  one  of  the  principal  witnesses  against 
them    and    his    testimony    was   important.      On    cross- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQTJAKED.  171 

examiiiation  he  admitted  that  he  was  politically 
strongly  opposed  to  the  prisoners  at  the  bar.  On  a  hint 
from  Katrina  Galsch  through  Sharp  Billy  to  Mr.  Chet- 
wynde,  William  Rambeutel  was  also  called  as  a  witness, 
but  his  testimony  lost  weight  by  his  admission  that  he 
had  drunk  apple-jack  a  number  of.  times  on  the  night 
when  Zellon  gave  him  his  confidence,  and  that  he  was 
under  the  influence  of  fear  previous  to  Zellon's  commg 
into  the  mill-room. 

Sharp  Billy  took  the  witness  stand  in  his  sprightly 
way  and  was  not  a  whit  discomposed  by  the  august 
presence  of  the  judge  and  his  associates,  the  jm^ors, 
the  lawyers  and  the  concourse  of  people.  Asked  as  to 
the  finding  of  the  letter,  and  what  he  heard  at  Mehl- 
huber's  mill  on  the  night  of  July  4th,  he  answered 
promptly,  and  when  the  prisoners  scowled  at  him  he 
scowled  back,  grimace  for  grmiace,  to  the  amusement  of 
the  lawyers  and  spectators.  When  cross-examined  he 
admitted  that  no  one  saw  him  pick  up  the  letter  at  the 
fire.  Then  followed  a  question  he  had  not  anticipated — 
why  he  was  in  the  mill  and  listening  at  the  mill-room 
door  so  late  at  nignt.  He  winced  a  Httle  but  replied 
smiling  that  Katrina  Galsch  had  sent  him  for  flour 
needed  next  morning  and  that  hearing  Rambeutel  and 
another  man,  whom  by  his  voice  he  knew  to  be  Zellon, 
talking  mside,  he  stopped  and  listened.  From  this  ex- 
planation he  would  not  swerve.  His  testimony  gave 
Rambeutel,  Pfannkuchen  and  the  rest  much  hght  on 
the  events  of  July  4th  at  the  old  mill. 


172  ENElVnES   IN"   THE   REAR  ; 

The  letter,  as  to  tlie  address,  was  put  in  evidence 
also. 

The  defence  brought  Hans  Prantman  and  his  wife 
and  James  Fetzer  to  prove  that  Pete  had  been  at  home 
during  the  entire  night  of  the  fire.  Several  frequenters 
of  "  The  People's  Hotel "  swore  they  believed  they  saw 
Zellon  at  the  inn  when  the  fire  was  first  seen.  Wit- 
nesses to  prove  the  imfriendly  temper  of  Chetwynde, 
Doctor  Heifer  and  Sharp  Billy  toward  the  accused,  were 
also  produced. 

The  counsel  on  both  sides  were  then  heard,  and  after 
a  very  fair  and  mipartial  statement  of  the  evidence  and 
of  the  law  by  the  able  jurist  who  then  graced  the  bench 
of  Berks  County,  the  cause  went  into  the  hands  of  the 
jury  for  final  decision.  Both  prisoners  were  acquitted, 
but  not  until  the  jury  had  been  out  twenty-four  hours. 
One  juror  it  seems  held  out  a  long  time  against  eleven 
for  a  verdict  of  guilty  but  finally  yielded  his  convictions. 
Two  of  the  eleven,  who  lived  in  Copton  township,  were 
angry  with  their  colleague  for  being  so  stubborn  in  so 
clear  a  case,  and  another,  hailing  from  the  adjoining 
township  of  Rattleton,  was  afterwards  heard  to  say : 
"  By  henker,  I'll  get  the  plagues  if  I  ever  go  in  to  give 
a  verdict  on  such  evidence  as  that  when  a  nigger-loving 
Yankee  like  that  there  Chetwynde  is  to  have  the  benefit 
of  it,  and  a  man  like  Pete  Prantman,  who  at  least  isn't 
ashamed  of  being  a  good  Democrat  and  a  Pennsylvania 
Dutchman,  is  to  suffer  by  it !  " 

Alas,  how  sadly  the  appellation  Democrat  was  misused 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  173 

in  those  days  —  retained  by  men  who  by  their  words  and 
acts  brought  reproach  upon  the  name  borne  by  Jeffer- 
son and  Jackson,  even  as  a  man  who  gets  drunk  and 
falls  into  the  gutter  soils  the  goodly  garments  he  may  be 
wearing. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

TmCLE   SAM   PAYS    SOME    OF    HIS    NEPHEWS   A   VISIT. 

Not  long  after  his  acquittal  Pete  Prantman  and  his 
father  were  one  afternoon  busily  engaged  in  plowing 
oats-stubble. 

"  Now,  Pete,  you  are  safe  out  of  this  barn-burning 
scrape  and  I  want  you  to  stay  out  of  scrapes,"  said  the 
latter  impressiyely  during  a  brief  rest  in  the  shade  ; 
"  they  come  high  and  the  ink-lickers  gets  the  money. 
And  I'll  give  you  a  cow  if  you'll  promise  to  let  the  Yan- 
kee girl  alone.  She  can't  even  talk  Dutch  and  mil  be 
much  fitter  for  an  ink-licker  like  " 

"  Pap,  I'm  never,"  —  broke  in  Pete  impatiently  — 
"  say,  there  comes  another  ink-licker,  sure." 

The  last  remark  was  called  forth  by  the  approach  of 
a  stranger  mtli  a  book  under  his  arm. 

"Good  day,"  said  the  gentleman  pleasantly  as  he 
came  near  ;  "  you  are  very  busy  and  I'm  sorry  to  inter- 
rupt you,  but  it'll  be  pleasant  to  stay  in  this  nice  shade 
a  few  moments  longer." 

Pete  started  at  this  address,  for  aside  from  his  other 
troubles  he  had  been  in  dread  ever  since  the  draft  for 
300,000  men  for  nine  months  from  the  militia  of  the 
different  states  was  ordered  August  4th.  After  the  first 
surprise  both  father  and  son  stared  suspiciously  at  the 
speaker. 


OK,    A   GOLDEN    CIUCLE   SQUARED.  175 

"My  name  is  Elijah  Belsnickel,"  said  the  visitor 
opening  his  book ;  "  I'm  the  enrolling  officer  for  this 
district  and  am  engaged  in  enrolling  all  citizens  therein 
liable  to  military  service  under  the  law  and  notifying 
them  of  their  liability. — Mr.  Prantman,  you  are  over 
forty-five  years  old  and  are  exempt.  What  is  your  son's 
full  name  and  his  age  ?  " 

"  Oh,  he's  not  quite  nineteen  yet,"  answered  Hans 
promptly. 

"  Mr.  Prantman,"  said  the  deputy,  "  remember  that 
if  any  one  claims  exemption  for  any  reason,  such  as 
being  outside  the  age  limits,  religious  scruples,  mental 
derangement  or  bodily  ailments,  his  claim  will  be  heard 
on  a  day  appointed  by  the  Commissioner  for  that  pur- 
pose, as  the  notice  will  tell  you.  So  you  needn't  be 
afraid  to  answer  my  question  truthfully." 

"  It's  a  shame  for  Abe  Lincoln  to  send  you  ink-lickers 
around  here  to  take  away  a  body's  boys  and  make  them 
fight  to  free  a  lot  of  lazy  niggers,  and  you  ought  to  be 
whipped  out  of  the  township,"  said  Hans  Prantman  in 
great  wrath. 

"  I  have  no  time  to  argue  with  you,"  answered  the 
officer  very  coolly."  "  Your  son  is  over  age  and  if  he 
refuses  to  answer  my  questions,  he  makes  himself  liable 
to  a  fine,  and  I'm  allowed  to  use  my  own  judgment  in 
regard  to  his  age." 

"  I'm  opposed  to  war  and  so  is  my  Peter  there  and 
Amos  too  ;  we  can't  with  a  good  conscience  take  part  in 
this  here  war.     So  strike  them  off  as  exempt." 


176  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE,  ; 

"  If  they  have  that  ground,  their  claim  will  be  heard 
by  the  Commissioner.  Now,  Peter,  are  you  going  to 
answer  me  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  and  Abe  Lincoln  get  apiece  for  enroll- 
ing honest  people  anyhow  ?  "  asked  Pete  not  heeding 
the  marshal.     "  About  ten  dollars,  I  think,  huh  ?  " 

"  I  put  you  down,  Peter,  at  twenty-five  years,"  said 
Belsnickel  writing. 

"  Nix ! "  exclaimed  Pete,  "  I'm  not  twenty-five ;  I'm 
only  twenty  " 

"  Hold  your  mouth,  you  dumb-head !  "  interrupted 
Hans  angrily. 

"  Too  late,  Peter,"  said  the  ofiicer  blandly.  "  You 
should  have  told  me  you're  only  twenty  sometliing.  It's 
down  at  twenty-five  now.     Here's  your  notice." 

He  handed  Pete  a  paper.     It  read  as  follows  : — 

"  Office  of  the  United  States  Deputy  Marshal 
FOR  THE  County  of  Berks,  at ,  Pa. 

m     n^        n        ^  AUGUST  25,  1862. 

TO  J^eter  J^rantman :  — 

Take  Notice, —  That  you  have  been  enrolled  as  a 
citizen  within  the  township  of  Copton  in  the  said  County, 
liable  to  Military  Service.  If  you  claim  exemption  from 
any  cause,  the  claim  will  be  received  and  determined  by 
the  Commissioner  to  be  appointed  for  that  purpose  for 
this  County,  at  such  time  and  place  as  he  shall  specify, 
by  hand-bills  to  be  posted  in  said  Township. 

Elijah  Belsnickel, 

Deputy  Marshal.^^ 


OR,    A   GOLDEN    CIECLE    SQUARED.  177 

Pete  took  the  document  very  reluctantly. 

"  I  won't  go  anyhow,  if  I  am  di-afted,"  said  he,  his 
teeth  chattering  as  if  the  paper  had  suddenly  given  him 
ague. 

"All  right,  Peter;  I  don't  care  for  that,"  answered 
Belsnickel  putting  up  his  book  and  papers. 

"No,  of  course  not,"  said  the  newly  enrolled  citizen 
in  words  meant  to  be  very  biting  indeed,  but  the  effect 
of  which  was  sadly  marred  by  the  chattering  teeth  and 
by  the  whining  tone  in  which  they  were  uttered ;  "all 
you  black  Lincoln  ink-lickers  care  for  is  your  ten  dollars, 
for  which  we  poor  farmers  must  plague  ourselves  day 
after  day." 

"  Now  there  is  one  question  more,"  said  the  officer, 
who  had  already  become  accustomed  to  abuse  like  this, 
"  are  there  any  other  people  of  military  age  besides 
Amos,  who  have  their  home  with  you  ?  " 

"  I  'm  not  going  to  answer  any  more  of  your  saucy 
questions,  except  you  pay,"  shouted  the  elder  Prantman 
starting  for  his  team,  — "  Git  ep,  Lincoln,  you  lazy 
black  rascal !     Gee,  whoa  !  " 

"  For  instance,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Zellon,  and 
another  named  Fetzer  ? "  continued  Belsnickel  turning 
to  Pete. 

"You  did  come  to  him  down  there,  and  you  must  go 
and  find  out  for  yourself  ;  I  've  no  more  time  to  fool," 
answered  Pete,  impudently 

"  Come  to  work,  Pete,"  called  Hans  in  a  loud  voice  to 
the  embryo  soldier ;  "if    you're  drafted,   you  can   buy 


178  ENEMIES    IN    THE   EEAH  ; 

yourself  off  for  ten  dollars  with  any  of  these  Lmcoln  "wor- 
shipers, and  if  it's  necessary  no  doubt  that  black  Yankee 
of  a  Chetwynde  will  buy  you  off  because  his  daughter 
likes  you  so  well,  sure  as  the  world  stands." 

This  remark  would  stimulate  Pete's  spite  greatly, 
which  was  what  his  father  had  in  yiew.  "  Donnerwetter  ! 
pap,  can't  you  hold  your  mouth  ?  "  shouted  the  son.  "  I 
hope  Zellon  will  shoot  the  ink-licker,  if  he  does  get 
hung  for  it." 

By  this  time  Belsnickel  was  on  his  way  to  the  Prant- 
man  residence.  On  the  way  he  met  and  enrolled  Amos. 
The  latter  answered  all  questions  promptly  and  took  his 
notice  with  something  akm  to  the  pleasure  a  child  shows 
when  getting  a  new  toy. 

"  You  needn't  go  to  war,  Amos,"  said  the  officer 
noticing  the  young  man's  mental  condition.  "  Good-bye." 

Arrived  at  the  house,  Belsnickel  rapped  at  the  kitchen 
door.  It  was  opened  by  Ret  Prantman,  who  remarked 
with  much  acerbity  that  he  might  have  walked  in  with- 
out making  all  that  noise  at  the  door,  like  the  Yankees 
with  their  newfangled,  proud  notions. 

"Is  James  Fetzer  here?"  he  asked  without  heeding 
her  remark. 

"  What  do  you  want  with  him  ?  "  she  asked  snappishly 
in  return.  But  just  then  James  made  his  appearance 
at  the  well  in  the  yard. 

"  Is  your  name  James  Fetzer  ? "  asked  the  official 
pleasantly. 

"  That's  what  they  call  me." 


OE,    A    GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUARED.  179 

"  I'm  the  enrolling  officer  and  must  ask  your  age,  if 
you  will  be  so  good." 

"  What's  that  for  ?  " 

"Well,  maybe  there  will  be  a  draft,"  said  Belsnickel 
suavely,  "  and  of  course  we  have  to  see  who  is  liable  to 
military  service.  If  you  claim  exemption  for  any  reason, 
your  claim  will  be  heard  by  " 

"  Oh,  I'm  almost  twenty-one,"  broke  in  Fetzer,  "  but 
you  can  strike  me  off  because  I  lost  four  teeth  and  have 
other  bad  ones  and  can't  chew  well." 

"  I  can't  strike  you  off,  James,  but  yom-  claim  will  be 
heard.  Here  is  your  notice ;  it  wiU  tell  you  how  it  is 
done." 

At  this  moment  Ret  appeared  in  the  door  with 
a  pail  of  boihng  water  and  threw  it  straight  at 
the  marshal  shouting :  "  Take  that,  you  Deihenker 
you!"    _ 

So  quick  was  her  movement  that  he  had  barely  time 
to  save  his  face  from  the  hot  bath  by  dodging.  As  it 
was,  some  drops  of  the  water  struck  his  neck  and  hands 
and  some  got  into  his  shoes.  These  he  had  off  in  a 
moment,  but  by  that  time  the  termagant  appeared  with 
a  second  pail  and  prepared  to  repeat  the  operation,  but 
Belsnickel  quickly  jerked  the  vessel  from  her  hand  and 
held  her  arms  so  firmly  that  she  writhed  with  pain. 

"  If  you  were  not  a  woman,  I  'd  arrest  you  on  the 
spot,"  he  said ;  "  but  if  you  show  your  face  outside  the 
door  while  I  'm  here,  I  '11  shoot  you,"  and  releasing  her, 
he  closed  the  door.     She  screamed  like  a  crazy  woman 


180  ENEMIES   EST   THE   REAR  ; 

but  feared  to  open  the  door  lest  he  might  make  good 
his  threat. 

Fetzer  stood  by  the  well  during  this  scene  so  sur- 
prised that  he  could  not  interfere  one  way  or  the  other, 
but  Jake  Zellon,  hearing  Ret's  cries  as  he  approached 
the  house  on  his  way  back  from  Haltfest,  now  came 
running  into  the  yard. 

"  How  are  you,  Mr.  Jones''*"  said  Belsuickel  turning  to 
the  new-comer. 

"  My  name  ain't  Jones,  you  dumb-head,"  snarled 
Zellon ;  "  I  'm  Jake  Zellon  and  I  think  you  're  a  cheating 
Yankee  peddler,  frightening  the  women,  and  you  'd  bet- 
ter go  off  before  you  get  hurt." 

*'  Oh,  yes,  '  Zellon,' "  said  the  marshal,  who  still 
stood  in  his  stockings  and  every  now  and  then  blew  his 
hands  where  the  hot  water  had  touched  them  and  mean- 
while kept  an  eye  on  the  kitchen-door  too, — "  '  Zellon,'  I 
remember.  I  heard  them  speak  of  you  as  being  twenty- 
nine  years  old  last  March." 

"  They  lied,  and  I  know  who  it  was  too,"  retorted 
Jake.  "I'm  twenty-six  and  I  don't  care  a  devil  who 
knows  it  too." 

*'  That 's  the  way  to  say  it "  remarked  the  ofl&cer 
writing  rapidly. 

"  You  fool,"  yelled  Ret  through  the  window,  "  don't 
answer  him  nothing.     Don't  you  know  that  he 's" 

"  Now,  woman,  if  you  don't  keep  quiet,  I  '11  arrest 
you,"  interrupted  Belsnickel. — "  Here,  Mr.  Zellon, 
please  accept  this." 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CLRCLE   SQUARED.  181 

Zellon  took  his  notice,  but  no  sooner  had  he  glanced 
at  it  than  he  tore  it  in  pieces  and  made  a  rush  for  the 
marshal.  But  the  latter  had  probably  anticipated  some 
such  demonstration.  Stepping  back  quickly  he  drew 
a  revolver  and  presented  it  square  at  Zellon. 

"  Zellon,  I  am  a  United  States  officer  and  if  you 
assault  me  I  '11  shoot  you  on  the  spot,"  said  he  very 
quietly.  The  ruffian  was  cowed  by  the  resolute  manner 
of  Belsnickel  and  the  dangerous  weapon  he  held  in  his 
hand.     He  stopped  instantly. 

"You  can  go  into  the  bushes  for  all  I  care,"  he  sul- 
lenly said.  "  If  I  am  drafted  you  '11  never  get  me,  and 
you  men  would  better  look  out  else  one  of  these  days 
you'  11  get  what  you  won't  like." 

"  And,  Zellon,  as  a  friend  let  me  tell  you  that  some 
things  are  very  dangerous  and  had  better  be  let  alone." 

Having  put  on  his  shoes,  the  enrolling  officer  gathered 
up  his  books  and  left  these  inhospitable  premises.  In 
the  course  of  a  few  days  his  work  took  him  into  the 
homes  of  the  mountain  philosophers.  His  coming 
created  no  little  consternation  and  although  he  had  two 
assistants  in  this  part  of  the  township,  his  life  and  per- 
son were  in  constant  danger.  Once  he  was  shot  at  from 
an  ambush,  the  bullet  piercing  his  hat. 

By  and  by  the  home  of  Andrew  Pfannkuchen  was 
reached.  When  Mrs.  Pfannkuchen  heard  of  the  claims 
for  exemption  from  military  service  she  at  once  began  to 
set  forth  all  her  boy's  ailments,  though  he  was  a  giant 
and  at  present  the  picture  of  health  and  vigorous  life. 


182  ENE]SnES    IN    THE   REAR  ; 

"  I  'm  sorry  that  your  son  is  so  sadly  afflicted,"  inter- 
rupted Belsnickel  gravely,  though  secretly  much  amused, 
"  but  you  see  I  'm  not  allowed  to  take  his  name  off  the 
roll,  Mrs.  Pfannkuchen.  His  claim  will  however  be 
heard  in  due  time,  if  he  presents  it." 

"  Oh,  mam,  they  only  want  to  scare  people,"  said 
Andrew  with  a  wise  air  ;  "  the  draft  will  never  be 
made.  Pete  Prantman  said  last  night  at  the  mill  we'd 
each  put  in  five  dollars  and  it  would  be  done  for  because 
these  here  fellows  only  wanted  money  and  Abe  Lincoln 
would  get  half." 

"The  mill?  Do  you  mean  Mehlhuber's  mill?" 
asked  the  marshal. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Andrew  grinning ;  "  and  you  don't 
want  to  miss  Rambeutel  there.  They  say  the  consta- 
ble from  Cold  Spring  township  over  the  Blue  Mountain 
in  Lebanon  comity  is  coming  for  him  one  of  these  days 
and  so  he  may  be  gone  soon.  Don't  speak  rough  to 
him  else  he  '11  go  into  fits ;  he  's  an  awful  heart-coward." 

And  in  very  truth  William  Rambeutel  was  frightened 
when  Belsnickel  called  on  him,  and  his  first  impulse  was 
to  run  into  the  wheel-room  and  hide.  The  timid  young 
man  was  beset  with  troubles  on  every  hand.  He  had 
incurred  Zellon's  ill-will  by  the  testimony  he  could  not 
help  giving  against  him,  and  Jake,  to  revenge  himself, 
had  informed  certain  parties  of  William's  whereabouts. 
So  the  apprentice,  having  a  suspicion  that  he  was 
betrayed,  was  in  constant  fear  of  being  visited  by  an 
officer  from  his  old  home  and  in  consequence  had  become 


OE,     A   GOLDEK   CHICLE   SQUARED.  183 

SO  nervous  that  he  started  at  his  own  shadow  and  suf- 
fered the  awful  torture  of  fear  every  night  in  the  old 
mill.  When,  then,  the  enrolling  officer  appeared  he  at 
first  thought  the  visitor  was  from  beyond  the  Blue 
Mountains,  and  when  the  latter  made  known  his  errand, 
poor  William  saw  simply  an  additional  enemy  to  his 
peace. 

"I'm  my  old  mother's  only  support,  and  if  I  went  to 
war  and  anything  happened  to  me,  she'd"  die,"  said  he 
pitifully  ;  "  and  besides,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  never  fired  a 
gun  in  my  life  and  can't  fight  at  all." 

"  Why,  I  see  two  guns  here  and  I  rather  think  you'd 
be  a  dangerous  man  to  molest  at  night.  Be  of  good 
cheer,  Mr.  Rambeutel.  After  all  a  man's  chances  to 
escape  being  drafted  are  pretty  good,  and  I  don't  believe 
you'll  be  called." 

This  speech  raised  Rambeutel's  spirits  somewhat. 

Doctor  HeKer  received  his  notice  very  philosophically. 

"  Ho  !  "  he  exclaimed,  though  not  quite  as  heartily 
as  common,  "  Providence  knows  I'm  needed  at  home  and 
I'm  sure  I  won't  draw  a  prize  from  the  wheel." 

But  even  the  most  loyal  winced  a  little  when  Uncle 
Sam  visited  them  in  so  unusual  a  guise.  Some  persons 
when  in  the  hands  of  the  dentist  have  their  wills  under 
such  perfect  control  that  not  a  groan  escapes  them ;  but 
they  feel  the  pain  just  as  keenly  as  those  who  scream, 
and,  however  courageous,  they  cannot  prevent  contortion 
of  the  face.  So  when  the  enrolling  officer  came  patriots 
as  well  as  the  disloyal  were  somewhat  disturbed    even 


184  ENEMIES   IN"   THE   EEAE  ; 

though  they  approved  of  his  work  and  were  ready  to 
accept  whatever  the  draft,  if  one  were  made,  might 
bring  them. 

Under  our  wonderful  system  the  strong  arm  of  the 
government  is  ordinarily  invisible  But  the  draft  of 
1862,  together  with  the  preparation  for  it,  brought 
directly  home  to  that  generation  the  fact  that  though 
so  seldom  manifested  as  to  be  well  nigh  forgotten,  tre- 
mendous powers  lie  dormant  even  in  a  government  so 
mild  as  ours.  No  wonder,  then,  that  these  things  were 
discussed  everywhere  and  by  all  classes  and  by  none 
with  more  anxiety  than  by  the  Pennsylvania  Germans, 
naturally  so  conservative  and  suspicious. 

No  doubt,  either,  that  in  consequence  of  the  discussion 
of  these  topics  all  over  the  North,  certain  men  were  led 
in  the  following  year  to  organize  the  National  Reform 
Association,  which  embraces  one  of  the  most  patriotic 
and  intelligent  bodies  of  citizens  in  the  Nation,  and  for 
thirty  years  has  been  diligently  striving  to  secure  the 
incorporation  of  an  amendment  into  the  national  Con- 
stitution recognizing  God  as  the  ultimate  source  of  all 
authority  and  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Ruler  of  Nations, 

It  was  seen  then  if  never  before  that  it  is  of  the  first 
importance  to  every  citizen,  whether  a  believer  or  an  un- 
believer, that  the  power  which  can  take  any  man's 
property  and  appropriate  it  to  its  own  uses  without  say- 
ing "  By  your  leave,"  levy  a  tax  on  his  income,  demand 
admittance  to  any  home  in  the  land  and  take  from  it 
the  father,  the  son,  and  put  them  to  the  most  hazardous 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  185 

service,  shall  be  a  righteous  power,  exercising  its  func- 
tions in  accordance  with  the  beneficent  teachings  of  the 
Prince  of  Peace. 

And  it  was  claimed  then,  and  is  now,  that  we  have 
no  assurance  that  the  authority  of  our  government  will 
be  righteously  exercised  unless  He  be  formally  acknowl- 
edged in  the  organic  law  of  the  land.  Such  recognition, 
say  the  advocates  of  this  movement,  is,  aside  from  its 
intrinsic  importance,  only  just,  because  Christians  and 
adherents  of  the  Christian  religion  settled  the  country, 
organized  the  government  and  still  form  the  large 
majority  of  the  population. 

These  views  are  worthy  of  serious  consideration  at 
least.  It  will  do  no  harm ;  it  may  do  good.  Mean- 
while let  us  sincerely  hope  that  Uncle  Sam  need  never 
again  visit  his  nephews  in  the  unwelcome  manner  in 
which  he  visited  Doctor  Heifer,  Pete  Prantman  and 
thousands  of  others. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 


A   rUELOTJGH. 


Uncle  Sam  is  a  much  more  pleasant  looking  gentle- 
man in  the  Postofiice  Department  than  in  the  Depart- 
ment of  War.  In  the  former  he  seems  like  a  good- 
natured  old  uncle  indeed,  while  in  the  latter  he  appears 
very  like  a  grim,  cross  step-father  or  hard-hearted 
guardian.  We  may  therefore  rejoice  that  we  often  see 
him  as  a  postmaster,  seldom  as  a  commander  of  soldiers. 
He  is  naturally  benevolent.  He  loves  peace  much 
better  than  war.  He  would  rather  smile  than  frown, — 
carry  letters  laden  with  love  and  friendship  than  call 
to  strife. 

Hence  when  he  had  summoned  many  of  his  nephews 
to  the  army,  he  frequently  visited  them  in  the  pleasant 
garb  of  a  bearer  of  messages  from  home.  They  were 
always  glad  to  see  him,  for  letters  were  very  precious  to 
them.  Frequently  a  dozen  battle-scarred  veterans 
would  gather  aromid  a  comrade  to  hear  him  read  one 
just  received  from  home,  and  even  while  they  listened 
all  were  back  in  spirit  whence  they  had  gone  forth  at 
their  country's  call. 

But  most  letters  could  not  be  read  thus  publicly. 
They  were  meant  for  one  only  and  to  have  read  them  to 
others  would  have  been  sacrilege.     Such  commonly  were 


OK,     A   GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  187 

those  received  by  Clinton  Chetwynde.  His  sister, 
brother  and  parents  wrote  him  often,  but  Susie  Zwei- 
springer  oftener  still.  The  warmest  letters  Captain 
Ruthvon  received  were  from  his  mother  and  Catharine. 
Blanche  Chetwynde  and  he  corresponded  'tis  true,  but 
the  warmth  of  his  letters  was  not  equaled  by  that  of 
her  replies,  for  reasons  well  known  to  the  reader.  His 
father  seldom  wrote  him,  and  when  he  did  it  was  in  the 
briefest  possible  way ;  but,  overlooking  this,  Charles 
wi'ote  long  letters  descriptive  of  his  army  life,  and  not 
devoid  of  many  marks  of  affection. 

Of  Pete  Prantman's  first  interview  with  Blanche  he 
heard  through  Clinton  Chetwynde.  Both  he  and 
Clinton  naturally  were  very  indignant  at  the  fellow,  but 
the  amusing  features  of  the  adventure  mollified  their 
feelings  considerably.  In  reference  to  Pete's  recent  in- 
solence the  captain  had  a  full  account  from  Tom  Hart- 
nagel  and  likewise  Susie  Zweispringer,  who  was  not  so 
deeply  absorbed  in  her  own  love  affairs  as  to  be  unable 
to  manifest  considerable  interest  in  those  of  Charles  and 
Blanche  besides.  When  these  letters  were  quickly  fol- 
lowed by  others  conveying  the  news  of  the  burning  of 
Mr.  Chetwynde's  barn  and  the  strong  suspicion  that 
Pete  was  an  agent  in  the  calamity,  he  determined  on  a 
visit  home  if  a  furlough  could  be  secured. 

Moreover,  more  than  a  year  had  gone  by  since  he  had 
enlisted  and  for  some  little  time  past,  owing  probably 
to  constant  exposure  incident  to  the  very  hard  service  of 
this  summer's  campaign,  his  health  had  given  tokens  of 


188  ENEMIES  nsr  the  rear; 

declining.  And  might  not  his  presence  cause  Blanche 
Chetwynde  to  waver  in  a  resolution  which  in  his  lover's 
eye  still  seemed  unreasonable  ?  All  this  increased  his 
eagerness  to  return  for  a  few  months.  He  did  not  for- 
get Clinton  nor  how  hard  it  would  be  for  the  poor 
fellow  to  remain  behind  when  he  himself  was  going 
home.  When  therefore  he  applied  for  his  own  furlough 
he  sought  to  secure  one  for  his  comrade  also  ;  but  while 
he  had  no  difficulty  in  getting  one  for  himself,  he  failed 
in  his  effort  on  Clinton's  behalf. 

"  Your  furlough  is  granted  you  on  the  ground  of  a 
failure  of  your  health  because  of  hard  and  faithful  ser- 
vice," was  the  brief  reply  vouchsafed  him. 

"  I'm  so  sorry  for  you,  Clint,"  said  Captain  Ruthvon 
when  communicating  to  his  friend  the  news  of  his 
faQure. 

"  So  am  I,  captain,"  said  the  brave  young  man  trying 
to  smile  ;  "  but  you  will  go  as  my  substitute  to  our  folks 
and  Susie." 

"  I  fear  I  shall  be  a  poor  one,  Clint,  but  I  will  do  the 
best  I  can,  I  'm  sure,"  responded  the  captain. 

"And,  captain,  if  the  occasion  arises,"  said  Clinton 
when  Charles  was  about  to  leave,  "you  can  say  to 
Blanche  that  nothing  would  please  her  soldier-brother 
better  than  to  see  her  some  day  the  wife  of  my  dearest 
friend,  Captain  Ruthvon." 

"  Thank  you,  Clint,"  said  the  captain  as  they  shook 
hands  warmly ;  "if  your  desire  is  not  realized  in  good 
time,  I  sincerely  trust  the  fault  shall  not  be  mine. — 


OR,     A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  189 

And,  Clint,"  continued  Charles  smiling  archly,  "■  as  your 
substitute  I  presume  I  shall  be  obliged  to  kiss  Susie 
once  or  twice,  eh  ?  " 

"  Certamly,"  responded  Clinton  heartily  ;  '•'•  and  don't 
you  fail  to  discharge  that  part  of  your  duty  !  " 

"It  shall  be  faithfully  performed  I — And  now  God 
bless  you,  Clint !  In  sixty  days  I'll  be  back  if  all  goes 
well,  and  tell  you  all  the  news." 

Something  that  would  have  "washed  away  the  stain 
of  powder "  might  have  been  seen  on  the  brave  lad's 
cheek  when  the  friends  parted.  Away  with  the  idea 
that  tears  are  a  sign  of  weakness  and  a  lack  of  man- 
liness !  The  Son  of  God  was  the  Perfect  Man  and  He 
shed  tears.  Rather  were  they  in  the  young  soldier 
mider  the  circumstances  the  index  of  true  affection 
and  a  noble  young  manhood.  Of  sincere  tears  the 
bravest  and  strongest  have  not  been,  and  need  not  be, 
ashamed. 

A  few  days  before  leaving  his  command  Captain 
Ruthvon  had  written  home  that  he  would  probably 
come  on  a  brief  visit  before  long.  Susie  Zweispringer 
was  hopeful  that  her  lover  would  come  with  Charles,  for 
the  former  had  hinted  to  her  that  it  was  just  possible. 
She  forthwith  visited  Blanche  to  discuss  the  chances 
of  his  coming  and  if  possible  to  advance  in  her 
wise  way  what  she  deemed  the  best  interests  of  her 
friend. 

"I  think  they'll  let  him  come  too,"  said  she;  "at 
any    rate    there's   no    reason   why    they    shouldn't. — ■ 


190  ENEMIES   IN"   THE   EEAH  ; 

But  Blanche  Chetwynde,"  slie  continued  starting  from  the 
reverie  into  Avhich  she  had  fallen,  "  Charlie  Ruth  von  is 
a  jewel  and  I  do  hope  you  '11  be  wise." 

"  Susie,  do  you  think  I  am  without  feeling  ? "  said 
Blanche  with  a  trace  of  indignation  in  her  voice  and 
manner.  "  No  sincerer  prayer  than  mine  ever  goes 
up  to  heaven  for  his  safety,  not  even  from  the  heart  of 
his  own  mother,  and  I  do  love  him.  But  look  at  it 
with  my  eyes  if  yon  can.  His  father  is  unhappy 
because  he  went  to  war  and  seldom  mentions  his  name 
even  at  home.  Catharine  told  me  so  not  long  since  and 
cried  bitterly.  He  does  not  now  recognize  father  at  all 
and  barely  nods  when  he  meets  me.  He  holds  us  as  the 
cause  of  all  his  family  troubles,  and  it  would  be  wrong, 
much  as  I  try  to  persuade  myseK  to  the  contrary,  to  do 
anything  that  will  alienate  him  still  more  from  Charles 
whom  he  once  loved  so  tenderly. —  Susie  Zweispringer, 
you  may  call  me  hard-hearted  and  foolish,  but  it  would 
be  wrong  and  I  will  not  do  it,  though  I  am  the  greatest 
sufferer,"  and  she  burst  into  tears. 

"  Well,  I  see,  Blanche,  you  are  bound  to  torture  your- 
self because  you  believe  you  are  right,"  said  Susie  after 
her  friend's  grief  had  spent  itself  somewhat.  "  I  admire 
your  heroism,  but  you  will  pardon  me  for  saying  that  it 
seems  to  me  Charlie's  feelings  ought  to  be  consulted  as 
well  as  his  stubborn  father's,  who  is  blind,  dear 
Blanche,"  —  and  she  fondly  embraced  her, —  <•'  to  beauty 
and  goodness." 

"  Surely,  I  do  consider  them,  "  said  Blanche,   "  and  I 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUAEED.  191 

■will  do  anything  but  wrong  to  make  Mm  happy,  but  his 
father  has  the  first  claim." 

"  But  Mrs.  Ruthvon  and  Catharine  would  receive  you 
with  open  arms,"  answered  Susie  eagerly. 

"I  know  it,"  said  Blanche  sadly,  ''but  if  Mr.  Ruth- 
von is  unhappy,  all  are  unhappy,  and  I  believe  if  Charlie 
were  to  tell  his  father  that  he  is  willing  to  give  me  up  en- 
tirely, the  latter  would  forgive  Charlie  for  differing  with 
him  in  politics  and  for  going  into  the  Union  army;  and 
I  sometimes  think  it  is  my  duty  to  tell  Charlie  to  do  so, 
and  "- 

"  Blanche  Chetwynde,  you  '11  do  nothing  of  the  kind, 
I  tell  you,"  interrupted  Susie  impetuously,  "  you'  ve  gone 
just  far  enough  in  your  self-imposed  martyrdom  and  you 
have  no  right  to  make  a  martyr  of  Charlie  too. —  Dear 
Blanche,"  she  continued,  turning  suddenly  very  grave 
and  speaking  with  a  quavering  voice,  "  how  soon  both 
he  and  another  who  is  dear  to  me  as  my  own  life  may 
be  martyrs  on  the  sacred  altar  of  our  country.  Remem- 
ber this,  won't  you?  and  be  very  kind  to  him  during 
the  few  weeks  he  has  to  stay." 

And  the  two  friends  wept  together. 

Blanche's  resolution  was  sorely  tried  by  Susie's  appeal 
and  the  vision  called  up  by  her  words,  but  she  made  no 
reply. 

"  Blanche,  you  will  yet  be  happ3%  I  know,"  resumed 
Susie,  when  they  had  regained  a  degree  of  com- 
posure. "  Mr.  Ruthvon  tmist  see  he  is  wrong  before 
long,"  and  she  emphasized  the  last  words  with  a  tap, 


192  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

a  decisive,  firm  tap,  too,  of  her  little  foot  on  the 
floor. 

"  When  that  time  comes  Charlie  need  not  ask  me  a 
second  time,"  replied  Blanche,  smiling  through  her 
tears  ;  "  but,"  she  added,  growing  grave  again,  "  I  fear 
it  never  will." 

"  It  will,  it  must,  and  I  shall  see  it  too,"  said  Miss 
Zweispringer,  with  another  emphatic  tap  on  the  floor. 

"  If  I  were  a  Methodist,  I  would  say  '  Amen,'  "  said 
Blanche,  amused  in  spite  of  herself  at  her  friend's  ear- 
nestness, "  but  as  I  'm  a  Congregationalist  I  simply  say  I 
pray  you  may  prove  to  be  right !  " 

"  And  I  am  neither  a  Methodist  nor  a  Congregation- 
alist, but  German  lleformed,"  answered  Susie,  '^but 
nevertheless  I  say  '  Amen,'  and  will  say  it  agam.  How 
glad  I  am  that  my  dear  papa  and  yours  are  men  of 
sense,  who  see  that  when  the  character  of  the  parties  is 
good  and  families  are  respectable,  this  thing  of  Congre- 
gationalist and  German  Reformed,  Democrat  and  Repub- 
lican, Pennsylvania  Dutch  and  Yankee,  has  no  business 
to  come  between  lovers.  There  now !  "  And  there 
was  a  third  tap  on  the  floor,  and  all  we,  whether  Metho- 
dists or  not,  say  "  Amen  "  to  Susie  Zweispringer's  senti- 
ments, tap  and  all ! 

Susie  returned  home  that  bright  summer  day  happy 
in  the  consciovisness  that  she  had  performed  an  impor- 
tant duty  and  might  hope  for  good  results. 

Tom  Hartnagel  was  in  great  spirits  in  anticipation  of 
Captain  Ruthvon's  visit  home,  and  as  Sallie  Vonneida 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  193 

was  almost  as  much  interested  in  the  captain's  suit  as 
Susie  Zweispringer  was,  Tom  naturally  was  also  greatly- 
concerned. 

"  Sallie,"  said  the  gallant  ex-soldier  one  day  in  a  con- 
fidential tone  to  his  betrothed,  "if  it  would  bring  them 
two  together,  I  'd  even  be  willing  to  shake  up  old 
Ruthvon  a  little  and  put  some  sense  into  his  head,  by 
Sch inner !  " 

"  Yes,  and  spoil  everything,  Tom,"  she  replied  laugh- 
ing.    "  You  wait  once  until  I  tell  you  to  go  ahead." 

"  I  will,  Sallie,  never  fear,"  he  replied,  but  still  had  an 
ill-defined  notion  that  "  shaking  up "  Mr.  Ruthvon, 
senior,  would  in  some  way  help  matters  along  between 
the  lovers. 

But  there  were  anxious  hearts  too  in  view  of  Charles 
Ruthvon's  home-coming. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

A  SOLDIEE  AT  "  THE  PEOPLE'S  HOTEL." 

It  is  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  September,  1862. 
There  is  a  larger  number  of  people  than  usual  gathered 
at  "  The  People's  Hotel "  in  Haltfest  and  there  is  much 
commotion  among  them.  A  rumor  was  current  at 
church  on  the  preceding  day  that  the  rebels  had 
invaded  Maryland  and  were  seriously  threatening  Penn- 
sylvania. This  rumor  is  fully  confirmed  to-night  and 
men  have  gathered  at  the  inn  to  get  the  latest  particu- 
lars and  discuss  the  situation. 

The  hostelry  has  much  the  same  appearance  as  in 
July  of  the  preceding  year  when  the  news  of  Bull  Run 
came.  Dan  Baltzer,  a  trifle  stouter,  especially  about  the 
face,  a  little  more  rubicmid  and  stolid,  is  still  master  of 
the  premises.  Hen  Weinmiller  presides  at  the  bar  now 
as  then.  Some  new  faces  appear  among  the  visitors  and 
some  of  the  old  are  absent,  but,  no  doubt  by  the  operation 
of  that  splendid  law  discovered  by  modern  philosophers 
—  the  survival  of  the  fittest, —  the  large  majority  might 
have  been  seen  here  several  evenings  every  week  since 
the  war  began,  drinking  whiskey  and  munching  pretzels. 
"Is  it  true,  doctor,  that  the  rebels  are  behind  Womels- 
dorf?"  asked  Christopher  Stettler,  still  in  quest  of 
information. 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  195 

"  No,  Stettler ;  somebody  has  been  trying  to  scare 
you,"  answered  Doctor  Heifer,  who  had  come  into  the 
bar-room  after  getting  his  mail. 

"  Well,  Jake  Zellon  said  yesterday  at  church  they 
was  coming,  and  to-night  he  told  me  they  was  near  to 
the  side  of  Womelsdorf,"  rejoined  Stettler. 

"  They  ain't  in  Pennsylvania  at  all  yet.  I  suppose 
Zellon  just  said  what  he  wished  was  true." 

"  How 's  that  there  ?  "  asked  Zellon,  hearing  his  name 
as  he  and  Pete  Prantman  entered  the  room. 

"  Stettler  here  tells  me  that  you  said  the  rebels  are 
near  Womelsdorf,  and  I  only  remarked  that  I  thought 
you  wished  it  was  true,  that 's  all,"  answered  Heifer, 
with  an  air  of  scorn. 

"  Stettler  lied,"  said  Zellon,  walking  up  to  the  old 
man,  who  was  leaning  against  the  bar,  and  frowning  on 
him  much  as  a  big  dog,  conscious  of  his  superior 
strength,  might  look  at  a  small  cur  cowering  before  him. 

"  Zellon,  it  is  easy  to  call  a  weak  old  man  a  liar,  but 
not  very  nice,"  said  Heifer. 

"  He  lied,  I  say,"  repeated  Jake,  who  evidently  was 
in  an  ugly  mood,  "but  I  wish  what  he  said  I  said  was 
true,  I  do.  Doctor  Heifer," 

"  Yes,  and  so  do  I,"  added  Prantman. 

"And  I  too,"  chimed  in  Andrew  Pfannkuchen,  who 
with  some  other,  "  Bergknibbel "  had  neglected  his  old 
haunt  at  the  mill  to-night  and  come  to  the  village  to 
get  the  latest  war  news. 

"And   I,  sure    as    the    world    stands!    "said    Mike 


196  ENEMIES   IN   THE   BEAE ; 

Halm ;  "  we  '11  all  be  drafted  and  killed  anyhow  or  rob- 
bed by  Abe  Lincoln  and  his  soldiers,  and  I  believe  the 
Southerners  would  treat  us  much  better." 

By  this  time  most  of  those  present  had  crowded 
round  the  speakers  and  were  listening  to  the  conversa- 
tion eagerly,  for  many  people  debated  with  themselves 
in  those  days  whether  it  were  not  better  to  let  the 
South  go  and  thus  stop  the  war.  Tom  Hartnagel  at 
this  point  came  in  from  the  post-office,  listened  a 
moment  to  what  was  said  and  passed  out  again. 

"  Treat  you  better,  by  the  great  Eulenspiegel,"  said 
HeKer  with  a  sneer  of  contempt,  in  answer  to  Hahn's 
observation ;  "  treat  you  better,  to  be  sure  !  Why, 
they  '11  strip  you  of  all  you  've  got  and  make  you  give  a 
note  for  what  you  haven't  got  into  the  bargain.  You'll 
find  out,  Hahn,  if  they  come." 

"  No  doubt  when  they  come  they'll  take  everything 
from  you  blacksnakes  that 's  trying  to  rob  them  of  their 
honest  property,"  Pete  Prantman  broke  in ;  "  it'll 
serve  you  right,  but  they  know  their  friends,  and,  if 
they  come,  I  know  something  that  some  people  don't 
know.  We  won't  lose  nothing  on  our  place  when  the 
Southerners  come.  I  tell  these  cursed  Lincoln- worship- 
ers that  a  power  will  soon  be  put  in  operation  here  and 
ail  over  the  North  that'll  put  an  end  to  these  men 
who'll  jump  at  a  five-cent  piece  as  long  as  there  is  one 
in  the  treasury,  and  also  a  stop  to  the  war." 

"  I  know  the  power,"  said  our  old  acquaintance,  Ad 
Sparger,  who  thus  far  had  sat  in  a  corner  half  stupefied 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  197 

with  drink,  but  now  caught  part  of  Pete's  words  and  at 
once  bethought  himself  of  the  panacea ;  —  "'I  know  the 
power  —  it 's  good  rye  Avhiskey  !  It 's  the  best  thing 
made  for  anything  bad.       Let's  once  drink  one !  " 

This  raised  a  loud  laugh  and  relaxed  the  tension  of 
feeling  somewhat ;  but  it  failed  to  produce  the  result 
Sparger  had  hoped  for,  every  one  being  too  eager  to  hear 
of  this  new  agency  before  which  the  government  was  so 
soon  to  succumb. 

"I  tell  you  people,"  persisted  the  loafer,  rising  from 
his  chair  and  winking  on  the  company,  "  if  they  did 
send  a  barrel  of  good  whiskey  to  Abe  Lincoln,  Jeff 
Davis  and  all  them  other  fellows,  they'd  shake  hands 
and  make  it  up  in  ten  days."  I  say,  doctor,  let 's  drink 
one !  " 

"  Give  him  a  schmaler,  Weinmiller,  and  let  him  be 
quiet,  though  for  that  matter  his  talk  is  less  harmful 
than  that  of  some  others,"  said  Heifer. 

"What  is  this  here  power  you  speak  of?"  asked 
Hahn  and  two  or  three  more,  as  soon  as  Ad  was  quieted. 

"I  won't  say  nothmg  just  now,"  answered  Pete; 
"  there  is  some  here  who'd  sell  us  all  if  they  could  at  a 
dollar  apiece  into  the  slavery  they  want  to  free  the  nig- 
gers from,  but  when  the  time  comes  they  '11  find  out  a 
thing  they  don't  know  yet." 

"  Now,  look  once  here,  you  people,"  said  Heifer  sit- 
ting down  and  lighting  a  cigar,  "  let 's  glance  at  this 
thing  a  little  bit.  This  government  is  protecting  every 
one  of  you  and  has  never  interfered  with  or  denied  one 


198  ENEMIES    EST   THE   KEAE  ; 

of  you  a  single  religious,  social  or  civil  right  belonging 
to  you.  Many  of  you  have  accumulated  property  under 
it,  and  to-day  you  are  getting  bigger  prices  than  you 
ever  did  in  your  lives  for  all  you  can  raise  on  your 
farms.  Now  I  ask,  is  it  fair  that  we  should  talk  and 
act  against  this  government  at  a  time  when  it  has  its 
hands  full  in  defending  itself  against  those  who  are  try- 
ing to  destroy  its  life  ?  Would  it  not  be  ugly  to  assail 
a  man  who  had  been  good  to  you  ?  " 

Most  of  these  men  had  never  looked  at  the  matter  in 
this  plain  way,  and  a  few  acknowledged  that  these 
views  seemed  fair. 

"  I  say  he's  right,"  said  Sparger,  rousing  up  again  at 
this  point;  "how  wovild  it  sound  if  I  was  to  talk 
against  Doctor  Heifer  here  after  he's  stood  treat  and 
will  do  it  again?     It  wouldn't  be  at  all  nice." 

"  You  hold  your  mouth,"  said  Pete  Prantman  angrily, 
"you'd  sell  your  soul  for  a  couple  of  drinks  of  Baltzer's 
whiskey,  by  lienker." 

"  Yes,  and  you'd  buy  it,  Pete,  and  get  what  you 
ain't  got  now,"  retorted  Sparger  winking  as  hard  as  the 
watery  state  of  his  eyes  would  permit.  A  roar  of 
laughter  followed  this  palpable  hit.  Pete's  anger  nearly 
choked  him,  but  again  the  laugh  was  against  him. 
However,  he  remembered  Doctor  Heifer's  prophecy  about 
the  speedy  conquest  of  the  rebellion,  of  which  he  had 
been  told. 

"  Say  once,  you  doctor,  your  three  months  is  nearly 
up    and    Abe   Lincoln   and   his    nigger-kissers   haven't 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  199 

quite  whipped  the  South  yet,"  said  he  in  the  most  sar- 
castic tone  of  which  he  was  capable.  "  How  soon  do 
you  think  the  war  will  be  over  now  ?  Three  months, 
huh?" 

"  Not  until  you  and  some  other  cowardly  traitors 
have  been  hung  up,"  answered  HeKer  coolly. 

"  And  no  doubt  you'd  like  to  assist  in  the  job  ?  "  said 
Prantman. 

"  Ho  !  I  would,  and  then  sell  their  skeletons  to  the 
doctors  as  about  the  best  thing  they'd  be  fit  for." 

While  the  doctor  was  speaking  a  young  man  very 
quietly  entered,  and  without  attracting  the  attention  of 
any  one  sat  down  in  a  far  corner  of  the  room. 

"  But  if  the  Southerners  gets  here,  this  thing  of  hang_ 
ing  may  work  the  other  way  and  some  of  us  honest  men 
may  get  a  chance  to  try  our  hands  at  that  kind  of  thing 
on  some  fellows  I  know  of,"  said  Pete. 

"  But  Pete  Prantman,"  in  his  hearty  way  broke  in  Tom 
Hartnagel  who  had  returned  by  this  time,  "the  rebels 
—  let's  call  them  by  their  right  names  and  be  honest 
about  it  —  ain't  here  yet,  and  except  they  come  as  prison- 
ers, which  is  likely,  it'll  be  hotter  than  Yankee  Chet- 
wynde's  barn  before  they  do, —  for  them  and  for  some 
of  their  friends  here  in  the  North,  lean  on  that 
now. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  Pete,  starting  when 
Tom  spoke,  but  now  putting  on  a  show  of  bravado. 

"  Just  what  I  say.  Us  old  soldiers,  who  bear  on  our 
bodies  the  marks  of  your  friends'  bullets,  and  the  loyal 


200  ENEIVHES    IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

people  of  the  North  will  stop  them  beyond  the  Susque- 
hanna and  attend  to  their  friends  up  here,  too." 

"  Isn't  it  true,  then,  sure,  that  the  Southerners  are 
behind  Womelsdorf,  as  —  as  I  was  told?  "  asked  Stettler, 
anxiously. 

"  No,"  answered  Hartnagel,  folding  his  arms  on  his 
chest,  "  and  the  man  who  told  you  so  lied  and  said 
what  was  dangerous." 

"  Who  are  you  talking  to  ? "  asked  Zellon,  coming 
close  up  to  Tom. 

"  T  was  just  now  answering  the  old  man's  question,  as 
you  could  hear  quite  plain,"  replied  Tom  very  calmly. 

"  And  you'd  help  these  Lincolners  rob  and  kill  your 
neighbors,  would  you  ?  "  asked  Pete,  pressing  up  close 
and  trying  to  make  Tom  say  something  unpopular. 

"  I  didn't  say  that,  for  our  government  don't  do  them 
things,  but  I  do  say  that  it  can't  afford  to  let  traitors 
attack  it  in  the  rear,  and  them  that  does  will  find  out 
they'd  better  not  done  it." 

"  Ho  !  bravo,  Tom,"  shouted  Heifer. 

"  And  I  say  again,  that  a  power  will  soon  appear  that 
will  put  an  end  to  this  here  persecution  and  robbery 
of  honest  people,"  said  Pete,  keeping  close  to  Zellon  ; 
—  "  yes,  you  look,  Tom  Hartnagel,  but  you  may.  I  say 
if  all  good  neighbors  who  are  tired  of  drinking  Lincohi 
coffee*  will  come  over  to  our  place  next  Saturday  after- 


*A  substitute  for  coffee  made  of  browned  rye,  used  by  many  Pennsylvania 
Dutcli  families  during  the  war,  after  coffee  had  become  very  dear.  It  was  termed 
Lincoln  coffee  to  reproach  the  President. 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  201 

noon  at  two  o'clock  they'll  meet  somebody  who'll  tell 
themi  something  they  didn't  know." 

"  Who  is  it?  "  asked  a  dozen  voices. 

"  You'll  see,"  answered  Pete,  knowingly  ;  "  and  he'll 
tell  you  just  what  ought  to  be  done  now  when  they 
threaten  to  draft  us  all." 

"I'm  out,"  said  Christopher  Stettler.  "I'm  told 
they  don't  take  anybody  over  seventy-five  years  old,  and 
if  I  live  I'll  be  seventy-six  on  Second  Christmas." 

"  Not  over  forty-five,  Stettler,"  said  James  Fetzer 
quickly,  eager  to  show  his  knowledge. 

"  It  makes  notlimg  out,"  said  Pete ;  "  we'll  show  them 
something  new.  They  daren't  carry  on  the  draft  after 
getting  whipped  again  at  Bull  Run,  and  the  Southern 
soldiers  on  the  way  to  Pennsylvania,  and  the  election 
only  a  month  off,  and  this  new  power  coming  up,  too. 
If  they  try  it  on  they'll  find  it's  easier  to  draft  people 
than  to  get  them  into  the  army  It  would  take  two 
soldiers  to  hunt  up  every  man  di-afted." 

"  That's  so,"  said  a  chorus  of  voices. 

"They  put  off  the  draft  twelve  days,  until  next  Mon- 
day, the  15th,"  resumed  Pete,  much  encouraged.  "They 
said  they  wasn't  ready  last  Wednesday,  but  Hautnehmer 
is  afraid  to  begin,  and  when  Monday  comes  you'll  see 
it'll  be  pvit  off  again  for  some  other  reason.  It'll  never 
be  made,  and  so  it  doesn't  matter,  Stettler,  whether 
you're  a  hundred  or  only  twenty-one." 

"  I  think  it's  best  for  all  citizens  to  be  careful  what 
they  say  and  do  in  these  dangerous  times,"  remarked 


202  ENEJVHES    Di   THE   REAR  ; 

Squire  Zweispringer,  who  liad  arrived  a  few  moments 
previously  and  listened  to  Pete's  oracular  utterance. 

"Yes,  of  course,"  said  Pete,  sarcastically,  "  if  tliis  here 
war  isn't  stopped,  we  can't  even  take  a  di-ink  of  Lincoln 
coffee  after  awhile  without  asking  some  abolition  soldier 
for  permission." 

"Ho !  you'll  probably  soon  have  a  chance  to  ask  one, 
Pete,  if  you  think  it's  necessary." 

"How  so,  huh  ?  "  asked  Pete. 

"Why,  Charlie  Ruthvon  is  expected  home  before 
long,"  replied  the  doctor. 

"They  say  that  rumor  is  false,"  said  Andrew  Pfann- 
kuchen  ;  "  somebody  said  at  the  mill  the  other  night 
that  his  pap  is  harder  against  him  than  ever  and  that 
he's  given  up  the  Yankee  girl  and  took  up  with  a  girl 
South;  may  be  a  nigger  girl." 

"  And  I  know  the  man  who  raised  that  story  about 
the  girl  in  the  South  and  he'd  better  take  care,"  ex- 
claimed Tom  Hartnagel  angrily,  his  arms  still  folded  on 
his  chest.  There  was  much  suppressed  excitement  in 
the  room. 

"  Donnerwetter  once  more  !  "  Pete  exploded,  "  you 
mean  me,  and  I  won't  hold  my  mouth  for  all  the  nigger- 
worshipers  here,  and  if  that  college-mule  comes  back 
he'll  find  out  he  can't  step  around  and  order  people 
about  even  if  he  has  black  Abe's  unicorn  on." 

"Not  handy,"  added  Pfannkuchen. 

"And  I  would  advise  you  not  to  repeat  that  story 
about  Ruthvon  and  the  Southern  girl,"  said  Tom,  whose 


OK,    A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE   SQUARED.  203 

object  evidently  was  to  irritate  Prantman  as  much  as 
possible,  "-for  if  you  do  you  won't  have  a  whole  skin  if 
Charlie  ever  gets  home  agam." 

"  I  say  once  more,  sapperlotte  !  that  I  won't  hold  my 
mouth  for  no  black-snake,"  shouted  Pete,  walking  to  the 
bar  and  calling  for  a  drink.  "  I  did  hear  that  the  band- 
box fellow  had  took  up  with  a  girl  living  South,  and 
Blanche  Chetwynde  and  her  folks  is  too  good  for  com- 
mon white  people  around  here,  and  no  doubt  since  she 
can't  get  the  college-mule  she'll  take  some  other  nigger- 
worshiper,  or  may  be  one  of  Sam  Barbour's  " 

At  this  pomt  the  young  man  who  had  sat  so  quietly 
in  the  far  corner  of  the  room  jumped  to  his  feet,  and  in 
the  twinkling  of  an  eye  rushed  upon  Pete.  He  had 
drawn  a  rawhide  from  his  coat  pocket  and  rained  fear- 
ful blows  on  the  face  and  neck  and  arms  of  the  bluster- 
ing coward.  Zellon  aimed  a  blow  with  his  fist  at  the 
stranger,  but  Tom  Hartnagel  caught  his  wrist  and  frus- 
trated his  purpose,  and  a  stinging  stroke  of  the  whip 
across  his  face  at  the  same  moment  rewarded  the  bully's 
zeal.  Shouts  and  curses  filled  the  room.  In  the  uproar 
poor  Sparger  was  thrown  down  and  trampled  upon,  and 
for  once  called  far  mercy  instead  of  whiskey. 

Several  besides  Zellon  were  inclined  to  help  Prant- 
man, but  Doctor  Heifer  mounted  a  chair  and  shouted : 
"Fair  play,  you  people  !  Don't  you  know  Charlie  Ruth- 
von?     Let  them  have  it  out." 

"It's  Charlie,  clean  down,"  cried  some.  Pete  Prant- 
man was  far  from   popular  and   Charles    Ruthvon  was 


204  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR; 

still  liked  by  a  good  many  of  those  present.  Besides, 
the  notion  prevailed  that  to  assault  a  soldier  involved  a 
heavy  fine.  At  any  rate  no  one  except  Zellon  tried  to 
interfere  further  with  the  captain.  Prantman  tried  to 
shield  himself  from  the  vigorous  blows  of  his  angry 
antagonist,  but  in  vain.  He  called  for  his  lieutenant, 
but  Hartnagel  and  others  were  in  the  way  of  that  indi- 
vidual. His  only  refuge  was  the  floor,  and  to  that,  face 
down,  he  went. 

"Do  you  confess  you  lied  ?  do  you  apologize  ?  do  you 
promise  to  behave  yourself  ?  "  came  in  rapid  succession 
from  Ruthvon  as  blow  followed  blow. 

"Yes  !  yes  !  donnerwetter  !  yes  !  "  yelled  Pete  after 
each  question. 

"  Then  I  have  nothing  more  to  say,"  said  the  captain, 
sinking  white  and  breathless  into  the  arm-chair  which 
Doctor  Heifer  set  for  him. 

"Welcome  home,  Charlie !  How  are  you?  I  didn't 
know  you  at  first,  you  look  so  pale,"  cried  the  doctor  in 
his  hearty  way.  About  half  a  dozen  of  the  men — mostly 
those  who  kej)t  Zellon  away  from  the  combatants  —  came 
up  to  the  young  ofiicer  and  shook  hands  with  him  heart- 
ily, but  the  majority  shrunk  from  him  and  the  remark 
was  heard  that  he  would  have  a  big  bill  to  pay. 

"Baltzer,  how  d'ye  do  ?  "  said  Ruth  von,  paying  no 
heed  to  these  remarks.  "  Pve  accepted  your  invitation 
to  make  myself  at  home  when  I  came  back,  you 
see. 

"It's  right  so,"  answered  the  landlord  stupidly,  and 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  205 

turned  away  to  wait  on  customers,  for  trade  was  brisk 
now  that  hostilities  had  ceased. 

Pete  Prantman  got  up  from  the  floor  and  his  face 
looked  like  the  furrowed  millstone. 

"You'll  pay  for  this,  you  black  Ruthvon  you,"  he 
yelled  when  he  reached  the  door,  shaking  his  fist  at  the 
captain.  "  I'll  spend  my  best  cow  at  law  to  have  you 
punished,  you  Lincoln  nigger.  I'll  get  even  with  you 
some  way.     Ain't  we  wiU,  Jake  ?  " 

"  We  will,  holy  cross  !  "  said  Zellon  fiercely.  "  Do 
you  see  this,  Ruthvon  ?  "  he  continued,  pointing  to  the 
welt  the  rawhide  had  made  on  his  face.  "  You'll  feel  my 
hand  for  that." 

Captain  Ruthvon  paid  no  attention  to  the  pair  and  they 
left  the  house.  To  his  friends  he  explained  his  unex- 
pected presence  by  saying  that  he  had  arrived  at  Read- 
ing a  day  earlier  than  anticipated,  and  that,  falling  in 
with  Hartnagel  on  Penn  street,  he  concluded  to  ride 
home  with  him  instead  of  taking  the  evening  train  to 
Haltfest. 

"  This  gave  me  a  good  opportunity  to  learn  how  mat- 
ters around  here  stood,"  said  he.  "  When  we  got  to  the 
village,  Tom  went  into  the  post-ofl5ce  to  get  the  mail,  and 
hkewise  into  the  bar-room  a  moment,  and  hearing  what 
the  nature  of  the  conversatien  in  the  latter  place  was,  he 
suggested  on  coming  out  that  it  might  be  interesting  for 
me  quietly  to  slip  into  the  room  and  listen  unobserved 
to  what  might  be  said  about  the  war.  The  suggestion 
pleased  my  fancy,  and  I  at  once  acted  on  it.     My  light 


206  EISTEMIES   EST   THE   REAR; 

overcoat  hid  my  uniform  and  I  drew  no  attention  to 
myself.  I  admit  that  I  provided  the  rawhide  for  such 
an  emergency  as  arose." 

"  And  you  used  it  to  good  purpose,"  said  HeKer, 
laughmg. 

"  Every  one  should  be  careful  in  these  days,"  re- 
marked Squire  Zweispringer  in  stereotyped  phrase.  "  In 
speech  you  were  careful,  captain,  for  you  said  almost 
nothing,  and  whilst  your  action  was  a  trifle  violent,  I 
commend  it  highly  and  I  don't  care  who  hears  me  say 
so.  I'm  not  an  Abolitionist,"  he  went  on,  suddenly 
warming  up  and  speaking  faster  and  louder  with  every 
succeeding  sentence,  "  —  I'm  not  an  Abolitionist,  never 
have  been,  did'nt  vote  for  Abe  Lincoln  and  don't  like 
niggers  more  than  the  law  allows,  but,  by  the  great 
Eulenspiegel !  any  citizen  who  talks  and  acts  as  Pete 
Prantman  has  been  doing  ever  since  the  war  began, 
deserves  all  you  gave  him,"  and  the  conservative,  peace- 
ful squire  trembled  with  passion.  — "  I'ts  time  to  go 
home,"  he  added  in  a  calmer  tone.  "Will  you  go  home 
with  me,  Charlie  ?     Susie  will  be  so  glad  to  see  you." 

But  the  captain  declined,  pleading  that  he  must  at 
once  get  into  his  mother's  care.  There  was  a  tremor  in 
his  voice  as  he  spoke,  and  after  exchanging  a  few  more 
remarks  with  Doctor  Heifer  he  and  Tom  Hartnagel  left 
the  hotel. 

Meanwhile  Pete  Prantman  and  Jake  Zellon  went  on 
their  way  on  foot  toward  home.  They  spoke  but  little 
until   they    were    passing    Frederick   Ruthvon's    house. 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CERCLE   SQFAEED.  207 

Then  Pete  hissed  to  his  companion :  "  They're  next, 
Jake.  We  made  it  hot  for  that  cursed  Yankee  Aboli- 
tionist over  there,  but  we'll  make  it  yet  a  great  deal 
hotter  for  one  of  these  here,  ain't  we  will  ?  " 

"  Holy  cross,  yes  !  See  our  faces,"  exclaimed  Zellon 
with  a  horrible  imprecation,  his  eyes  gleaming  in  the 
calm  moonlight  like  those  of  an  angry,  venomous  serpent 
ready  to  strike  its  deadly  fangs  into  its  victim. 

A  slight  rustling  in  the  bushes  by  the  wayside  startled 
them.  They  relapsed  into  silence  and  hurried  on,  seem- 
ing in  strange  and  unpleasant  contrast  with  the  pure 
light  of  the  September  full  moon  and  the  lovely  land- 
scape through  which  their  way  led. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    OF   MEAN   COMPOSITION. 

"  Honestly  now,  what's  the  reason  so  very  many  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Germans  oppose  the  war  ?  I  can't 
quite  comprehend  it.     Isn't  there  somebody  to  blame  ?  " 

The  speaker  was  Jabez  Chet^vynde ;  the  person 
addressed,  Doctor  Heifer  ;  the  place,  the  pleasant  resi- 
dence of  the  former  ;  the  time,  a  few  days  after  the 
rencounter  at  Baltzer's  tavern. 

"  I  asked  you  a  question  some  time  ago  and  you 
answered  it  very  satisfactorily,  and  I  will  try  to  return 
the  compliment,"  replied  the  doctor.  "Being  a- Penn- 
sylvania German  myself,  I  can  probably  give  your 
question  a  tolerably  correct  answer. — Our  people  don't 
care  for  the  South  particularly,  for  socially  and  relig- 
ously  it  and  they  have  nothing  in  common  ;  but  most  of 
them  believe  slavery  right  and  that  the  war  is  unjustly 
disturbing  it.  Then  they  are  naturally  a  peaceful  folk 
and  opposed  to  war ;  besides  I  am  sorry  to  say  many  of 
them  are  just  about  as  selfish  and  earthy  as  any  you  can 
find,  and  the  war  costs  money  and  increases  taxes.  But, 
Mr.  Chetwynde,  aside  from  all  this,  for  the  unfortunate 
attitude  of  the  majority  of  our  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
people  here  toward  the  government  at  this  time  their 
political  leaders  and  newspapers  are  very  largely  respon- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  209 

sible.  Even  Fred  Ruthvon  has  been  led  wrong  in  this 
very  way,  and  is  so  bitter  that  he  barely  admitted  Charlie 
into  the  house  last  Monday  night,  and  I  have  learned 
there  was  a  sad  scene.  Only  Mrs.  Ruthvon's  good  sense 
and  affection  prevented  Charlie  from  going  away  again, 
sick  as  he  was.     Schinnerhannes  !  " 

"  Somebody  to  blame,  do  you  ask  ?  "  he  continued,  puff- 
ing his  cigar  vigorously.  "-When  our  own  Congressman 
denounces  the  government  in  Congress  and  out ;  when 
a  lawyer  like  Jerry  Strohdach  teaches  that  the  ultimate 
object  of  the  government  leaders  is  to  take  the  people's 
property  from  them,  to  rob  them  of  the  privilege  of 
holding  public  meetings  and  to  keep  them  from  voting ; 
when  another  la^vyer  like  Jesse  Geehawler  tells  them 
that  the  negro  is  an  inferior  being  to  be  kept  in  perpet- 
ual slavery ;  when  disloyal  papers  like  the  Eagle  con- 
stantly abuse  President  Lincohi  and  say  all  that  can  be 
said  on  the  safe  side  of  the  treason  line  ;  and  when  you 
remember  that  our  people  are  very  far  behind  in  educa- 
tion and  must  depend  upon  their  leaders  instead  of 
thinking  for  themselves ;  —  can  you  wonder,  Jabez 
Chetwynde,  that  many  men  who  under  better  guidance 
would  be  patriotic  are  traitors  in  sentiment  if  not  in 
act  ?  " 

Mr.  Chetwynde  was  a  deeply  interested  listener. 

"  I  see,"  said  he ;  "  ignorance,  selfishness  and  dema- 
gogism  have  a  good  deal  to  do  in  the  matter." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Heifer.  "  But,  remember,  many 
of  our  people  are  brave  and  loyal  and  a  better  era  is 


210  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR; 

dawning  upon  us.  Up  in  New  England  tliey  used  to  go 
wrong  too  before  they  had  reached  their  present  stage 
of  advancement  in  education  and  general  intelligence. 
They  not  only  apologized  for  slavery  but  burned  witches, 
which  last  is  something  we  never  were  guilty  of,  although 
we  still  believe  in  them  and  pay  witch-doctors  well  for 
cheating  us." 

Jabez  was  much  amused  at  these  concluding  remarks. 

"I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  doctor,"  said  he,  "I 
now  understand  some  things  better  than  I  did  before. — 
But  what  is  this  I  hear  about  a  meeting  of  some  kind 
over  to  Prantman's  to-morrow  afternoon?  Tom  Hart- 
nagel  speaks  about  it,  and  Sharp  Billy  passed  this  morn- 
ing and  said  something  to  the  effect  that  Pete  Prantman 
was  going  into  more  hemp-growing  business  to-morrow 
afternoon,  and  on  asking  him  what  he  meant  he  replied 
there  was  to  be  a  meeting  at  Prantman's,  at  which  we 
would  all  be  taught  free  of  charge  in  one  lesson  how  to 
get  into  jail." 

"  Yes,"  said  Heifer  looking  out  of  the  window, — 
"good  afternoon,  Miss  Blanche, —  Mr.  Chetwynde,  no 
wonder  Charlie  Ruthvon  is  —  well,  as  I  was  saying," 
he  resumed,  noticing  a  slight  deprecatory  gesture, — 
"  Billy  is  a  bright  boy.  I've  got  my  suspicions  about 
that  meeting.  I  think  it  means  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Circle.  I'm  going  over  and  will  take  Zweispringer  with 
me.  The  squire  is  getting  to  be  a  good  war  Democrat. 
You  should  have  heard  him  last  Monday  night  after 
Charlie  cowhided  that   Prantman  traitor  !     But  I  must 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  211 

go  and  see  Charlie  right  away.  He's  badly  run  down 
but  between  me  and  his  mother  and  —  and  you,  we'll 
get  him  out  again." 

The  events  of  August,  and  of  September  thus  far, 
helped  to  develop  very  rapidly  the  discontent  of  many 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Germans  and  to  intensify  their 
opposition  to  the  war.  The  year  1862  was  undoubtedly 
the  dark  year  of  our  great  conflict.  It  opened  auspi- 
ciously, but  recently  battle  after  battle  had  been  lost. 
McClellan's  forces  were  decimated  by  war  and  disease. 
Lee  with  his  victorious  troops  was  again  on  the  way  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  only  the  day  before  the  conversation 
between  Doctor  Heifer  and  Mr.  Chetwynde,  Andrew  G. 
Curtin,  the  Governor  of  that  state,  had  issued  an  order 
directing  all  able-bodied  men  to  hold  themselves  in  read- 
iness to  march  to  the  defence  of  the  commonwealth  at 
an  hour's  notice,  which  was  followed  twenty-four  hours 
later  by  a  call  for  50,000  men  for  the  emergency  that 
had  arisen  so  suddenly.  And  hi  three  days  the  awful 
draft  was  surely  to  begin. 

Things  were  rapidly  going  from  bad  to  worse,  these 
people  said.  They  were  bemg  robbed  by  high  taxes, 
their  children  taken  from  them,  their  friends  killed.  It 
could  not  be  worse  if  the  South  were  quietly  permitted 
to  go ;  it  would  win  at  any  rate,  for  God  seemed  with  it. 
Let  it  go  then  before  it  overran  the  North  and  put  it- 
self in  a  position  to  demand  and  exact  heavy  indemnity. 
But  the  government  did  not  seem  inclined  to  do  this. 
On  the  contrary  it  was  about  to  make  a  draft  to  fill  up 


212  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR; 

the  ranks  of  the  army.  The  government  must  be 
wrong.  If  possible  the  draft  should  be  prevented. 
Then  the  rebellious  states  would  probably  have  to  be 
allowed  to  withdraw  from  the  Union  in  peace.  At  the 
same  time  safety  from  plunder  should  the  rebels  in  the 
meantime  come  North  must  also  be  secured.  But  how 
could  all  this  be  accomplished  ? 

One  fair  day  the  news  had  been  borne  to  the  town- 
ship of  Copton,  and  to  many  other  townships  besides, 
that  out  in  Indiana  an  organization  had  arisen  called  the 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  or  Sons  of  Liberty.  The 
objects  of  this  body,  among  others,  were  said  to  be  to 
resist  all  drafts,  to  discourage  volunteering,  to  sow  dis- 
sensions among  Union  officers,  to  change  the  administra- 
tion of  the  government;  to  return  negroes  to  slavery,  to 
encourage  desertions  from  the  Union  army,  to  assist 
deserters  to  hide  away  from  the  officers  sent  to  arrest 
them,  to  help  rebel  prisoners  to  escape,  to  abduct  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  if  deemed  necessary,  and  carry  him  South 
or  into  Canada,  to  assist  the  rebel  emissaries,  if  thought 
wise,  in  the  destruction  of  Northern  cities  and  villages, 
and  to  give  the  enemy  information  concerning  the  move- 
ments of  the  Union  armies,  etc.,  etc. 

At  once  the  merits  of  the  Golden  Circle  were  eagerly 
canvassed  in  the  township  of  Copton.  Men  stood 
in  groups  here  and  there  and  whispered  mysteriously 
to  each  other.  Was  not  this  just  the  thing  needed  at 
present?  Who  could  give  further  information  about 
it  ?     Hence,  when    Pete    Prantman  at   "  The    People's 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUARED.  213 

Hotel  "  liinted  at  a  power  which  would  soon  manifest 
itself  in  the  North,  and  later  in  the  evening  openly  and 
incautiously  announced  a  meeting  at  Avhich  some  one 
would  be  introduced  who  would  instruct  the  people  in 
certain  matters  concerning  which  they  had  been  in 
ignorance  hitherto,  great  interest  was  aroused,  which 
was  increased  by  the  exciting  events  of  the  next  few 
days.  The  result  was  that  when  Saturday  came  the 
gathering  at  Prantman's  had  been  advertised  far  beyond 
the  confines  of  the  township. 

Katrina  Galsch  was  deeply  interested  in  tliis  new 
movement,  and  was  anxious  to  learn  all  she  could  about 
the  meeting  on  Saturday.  She  caused  Sharp  Billy  to 
attend  and  exhorted  him  to  keep  his  eyes  and  ears  open 
and  his  mouth  shut. 

"  Be  very  carefid,  my  boy,"  she  said,  "  for  Pete  Prant- 
man  suspects  you  of  double  dealing  since  you  gave  your 
testimony  about  the  fire." 

Through  him  she  sent  Tom  Hartnagel  word  that  she 
wovdd  be  glad  if  he  would  keep  an  eye  on  the  lad  at  the 
meeting,  and  that  if  he  would  come  to  her  place  Sun- 
day night  at  nine  o'clock  she  might  be  able  to  tell  him 
somethmg  that  concerned  him  and  his  friend  Captain 
Ruthvon. 

It  need  hardly  be  said  that  Captain  Ruthvon,  Tom 
Hartnagel,  Doctor  Heifer  and  Jabez  Chetwynde  were 
greatly  concerned  about  the  proposed  meeting.  They 
had  heard  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  and 
wondered  what  shape  their  practices  would  assume  in 


214  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR. 

the  township  of  Cojoton.  They  resolved  that  if  treason 
were  being  hatched  in  the  community,  they  would  know 
the  fact,  and  if  possible  thwart  the  plans  of  the  con- 
spirators. 

"  We  are  very  busy,  Tom,"  said  Mr.  Chetwynde  to 
his  hired  man,  Friday  evening."  The  hill  field  ought  to 
be  sowed  this  week,  but  you  can  go  to  the  meeting 
to-morrow  anyhow.  The  grain  will  grow  all  the  faster 
next  week  if  we  do  somethuig  for  our  country  this 
week." 

"  All  right,  Mr.  Chetwynde,  though  it  looks  bad  just 
now  as  if  we  might  be  needed  some  other  place  next 
week." 

"  Very  well.  If  the  country  perishes  we  might  as 
well  perish  with  it.  So  let  the  sowing  take  care  of 
itself  for  a  few  days." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE   PElSnsrSYLVAKIA    DUTCH   APOSTLE     OF    AX   IGNOBLE 
GOSPEL. 

Philip  Huber  was  the  unpretending  name  borne  by 
the  leader  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  among 
the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  in  Southeastern  Pennsylvania, 
and  his  person  and  general  appearance  were  as  little 
knightly  as  his  name.  He  was  born  not  far  from  the 
once  famous  Black  Horse  Tavern  in  Lancaster  County. 
There  he  lived  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  quietly 
pursuing  the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  and  apparently 
without  any  ambition  for  notoriety.  He  was  then  about 
thirty-two  years  of  age.  He  was  of  medium  size,  with 
a  florid  complexion,  sandy  hair  and  bright  blue  eyes. 
He  had  a  keener  scent  for  dollars  and  cents  than 
Yankee  Chetwynde  ever  possessed.  His  command  of 
the  Pennsylvania  German  patois  was  perfect  and  he 
could  very  clearly  state  what  he  wished  to  convey  to  his 
auditors.  Besides,  he  knew  his  people  thoroughly  and 
was  thus  enabled  to  gain  their  confidence  and  to  wield  a 
tremendous  influence  among  them.  That  many  of  them 
held  him  in  high  esteem  was  indubitably  sho^vn  by  sub- 
sequent events. 

Regardmg  his  motives  there  has  been  much  difference 
of  opinion.     Some  have  believed  him  perfectly  sincere ; 


216  ENEIMLES   nsr   THE   REAR; 

others  liave  attributed  his  entire  course  to  greed.  Prob- 
ably the  truth  hes  somewhere  between  these  extreme 
views.  Sincere  in  the  beginnmg,  perhaps,  it  is  Hkely 
that  later  on  in  his  career  as  a  leader  of  the  Knights 
gain  was  much  stronger  as  a  controlling  element  in  his 
actions  than  his  mistaken  views  of  duty  in  reference  to 
the  war.  That  for  a  time  he  made  a  good  deal  of 
money  out  of  the  formation  of  lodges  of  Knights  is 
unquestioned. 

Sometime  in  the  summer  of  1862  Huber  made  a 
journey  to  the  State  of  Indiana  and  Avas  there  initiated 
into  all  the  di*ead  mysteries  of  the  Golden  Circle. 
Then  back  he  hurried  to  his  native  state  to  tell  of  the 
body  which  numbered  over  a  million  of  members,  had 
already  in  good  part  wrought  out  the  pohtical  salvation 
of  the  Hoosier  State  and  would  surely  do  no  less  for  the 
old  Keystone  State. 

Riding  upon  a  steed  which  would  well  have  become  a 
monk  under  a  vow  of  perpetual  poverty,  this  redoubtable 
Knight  one  day  entered  the  territory  of  Copton  town- 
ship in  the  interest  of  Golden  Circleism.  The  fame  of 
Pete  Prantman  as  an  Irreconcilable  had  been  blown  to 
his  ears  and  he  at  once  sought  out  that  individual.  A 
comparatively  short  interview  convinced  him  that  Pete 
was  just  the  man  he  wanted  for  his  purpose, —  possess- 
ing spite,  zeal,  cupidity,  pig-headedness  and,  judging 
from  his  words,  great  physical  courage.  To  him  Huber 
imparted  enough  information  to  inflate  his  vanity  and 
to  show  him  that  from  behind  the  Golden  Circle  as  a 


OR,    A    GOLDEK   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  217 

shield,  plenty  of  opportunity  would  be  afforded  to  grat- 
ify his  hate  of  certain  individuals. 

"  We're  going  to  stop  the  draft,  Prantman,"  said  he. 
"  We'll  employ  lawyers  and  show  that  it's  illegal  and 
by  means  of  salt  and  some  harder  substances  thrown  at 
the  enrolling  officers  and  others  in  a  certain  way " — 
imitating  the  aiming  and  firing  of  a  gun —  "we'll  make 
them  glad  to  let  people  alone  and  to  mind  their  own 
business." 

"  Sapperlotte  !  "  exclaimed  Pete  grinning  viciously, 
"  won't  we  give  it  to  Ruthvon  if  he  comes  home,  and 
Hartnagel.     I'll  tell  Zellon  " — 

"  Be  careful,  Prantman,"  interrupted  Huber.  "  Now 
you  appoint  the  meeting  very  quietly  and  I'll  be  there. 
Don't  let  any  nigger-worshipers  know  if  you  can 
help  it.     We  don't  want  them  ;  only  honest  white  men." 

As  we  have  seen,  Pete  made  the  appointment  but, 
anger  and  eagerness  being  stronger  than  caution,  by  no 
means  as  discreetly  as  advised  to  do. 

Saturday,  September  13th,  was  a  warm,  lovely  day, 
and  busy  as  was  the  season,  when  two  o'clock  came 
over  three  hundred  persons,  mostly  farmers,  had  gathered 
in  the  orchard  back  of  Hans  Prantman's  barn.  Sym- 
pathizers with  the  rebellion  were  in  a  large  majority 
and  their  minds  were  in  a  state  of  receptivity.  They 
were  ready  to  believe  anything  the  glib-tongued  Huber 
might  say,  to  do  any  dangerous  acts  he  might  advise 
them  to  perform,  and  even  to  contribute  of  their  treas- 
ure.    But  here  and  there  stern,  determined  faces  might 


218  exe:mies  rs"  the  eeae; 

be  seen  in  the  throng  eyidently  not  in  accord  with  the 
objects  of  the  meeting. 

Tom  Hartnagel  stood  near  the  outer  edge  of  the 
cro^vd,  his  jaw  set  and  his  arms  folded  on  his  chest. 
His  whole  appearance  was  that  of  a  man  to  whom  it 
were  best  not  to  say  much  at  present.  Around  him 
were  grouped  five  or  sis  young  men  whom,  with  a  num- 
ber of  others,  he  had  drilled  in  military  rudiments  in 
the  village  almost  eyerv  evenmcr  for  the  last  two  weeks 
and  who  admired  him  greatly.  Doctor  Heifer  and 
Squire  Zweispringer  were  also  present  and  conversed 
pleasantly  with  those  about  them.  Ad  Sparger  moved 
among  the  people,  his  eyes  weaker  than  usual,  and  Jake 
Zellon  and  Andrew  Pfannkuchen,  who  were  much  to- 
gether recently,  were  talking  to  each  other  and  now  and 
then  nodded  toward  Hartnagel. 

But  all  eyes  frequently  turned  toward  the  house,  to 
which  Huber  had  repaired  immediately  on  his  arrival. 
To  almost  all  present  he  was  an  entire  stranger.  Prompt- 
ly at  the  appointed  hoiu%  accompanied  by  Hans  Prantman 
and  Pete,  he  came  into  the  orchard  and  stepped  upon 
the  little  platform  provided  for  him.  Pete  looked  very- 
proud  and  seK-conscious  and  at  once  introduced  the 
speaker  of  the  day  by  saying  "  Here  is  a  man  who  will 
tell  us  something  and  even  Radicals  can  learn  something 
from  him." 

"  That  one  knows  much,  mind  that  there,"  said  Chris- 
topher Stettler  referring  to  Huber. 

"  He   looks    as   if    he    could   di-ink    one    and     stand 


OR,   A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  219 

treat  if  one  got  him  at  the  right  time,"  responded 
Sparger. 

"  Yes,  but  he'll  get  the  money  to  do  it  with  out  of 
these  honest  farmers  first,"  whispered  Sharp  Billy. 

"  It's  Huber  sure,"  said  Doctor  Heifer.  "  I've  seen 
him.  I'm  sorry  my  native  county  —  the  county  of 
Thad  Stevens — has  produced  such  a  raw  jewel.  Why 
wasn't  he  born  in  Berks  County?  " 

Without  removing  his  hat  the  subject  of  these  com- 
ments began  his  harangue  immediately. 

"  These  are  evil  times  that  have  come  over  us,"  said 
he  stretching  out  his  right  hand  as  if  to  grasp  some- 
thing. "  Who  knows  but  this  may  be  the  very  last 
time  you  will  be  permitted  to  gather  as  freemen. 
Who'll  forbid  you  ?  Abe  Lincoln  and  his  hirelings. 
Here  you've  got  nice  horses  and  cattle,  but  how  do  you 
know  you'll  have  them  to-morrow  ?  Who'll  take  them  ? 
Abe  Lmcoln,  —  the  cattle  to  feed  his  hirelings  and  the 
horses  for  the  niggers  to  ride  on.  Here  are  your  strong, 
healthy  sons,  but  a  week  from  now  they  may  be  down 
South  starving.  Who'll  take  them  from  you  ?  Abe 
Lincoln.  He's  ordered  the  draft  to  come  before  the 
election  and  all  of  your  boys  will  be  compelled  to  free 
niggers  and  can't  vote  on  the  second  Tuesday  of 
October." 

The  audience  was  much  moved  by  these  words. 
Teeth  were  set  and  fists  clenched.  Hartnagel  was  with 
difficulty  restrained  by  Doctor  Heifer  from  saying  some- 
thing violent.     Huber  quickly  perceived  that  his  open- 


220  ENEivnEs  nsr  the  eear; 

ing  words  had  made  a  favorable  impression  upon  tlie 
majority  of  his  hearers  and  went  on  with  great  anima- 
tion. 

"Your  daughters  are  your  pride.  None  can  work 
better  than  they  and  none  are  handsomer.  But  what 
will  their  fate  be  unless  something  is  done  very  soon? 
Who'll  harm  them  ?  Abe  Lincoln  is  bound  to  free  all 
the  niggers  in  spite  of  the  Bible  and  the  Constitution. 
There  are  ten  millions  of  these  awful  people  —  little 
better  than  your  hogs.  If  they  are  made  free,  they 
will  come  up  here  in  big  swarms  and  then  you  may 
know  what  will  become  of  your  daughters." 

"  We'll  kill  them  all  first ;  we  won't  stand  it,"  fiercely 
cried  Hans  Prantman  and  many  others. 

"  Keep  quiet,  Tom,"  Doctor  Heifer  whispered  to 
Hartnagel  as  the  latter  was  about  to  speak.  "  Let  the 
fool  go  on  ;  he's  hooking  himself  fast  enough." 

"  All  right,  doctor,  but  I'll  get  the  plagues  if  an  old 
soldier  can  stand  such  talk  much  longer,"  hissed  Tom. 

Pete  Prantman  saw  the  two  men  whisper  and,  as  if  to 
vex  them,  grinned  at  them  spitefully. 

"  But,  my  friends,  it's  better  to  stop  this  thing  before 
it  gets  so  far,"  Huber  continued,  "and  that  is  what 
we've  come  together  to  consider,  and  may  be  I  can  point 
out  a  remedy  to  you." 

"  That's  just  straight  what  we  want  to  know,"  said 
several  voices. 

"  Now  he'll  tell  them  how  to  get  to  jail,"  whispered 
Sharp  Billy  to  one  of  Hartnagel's  young  men. 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  221 

"  You  see  the  draft  has  been  put  off  from  the  loth  to 
the  25th,"  resumed  Huber,  "■  on  the  ground  that  they  are 
not  ready  to  go  on,  but  I  think  it's  because  the  Southern 
soldiers  are  so  handy  by.  Now  it's  important  that  we  hold 
big  conventions  all  over  the  country  and  get  good  speakers 
to  address  the  people.  These  conventions  must  pass  strong 
resolutions  of  censure  of  the  authorities.  We  must  also 
get  big  lawyers  to  give  their  opinions  on  the  unconsti- 
tutionality of  the  draft  act  and  the  draft." 

"•That's  first-rate,  clean  down,"  said  Mike  Halm. 

"Now,  I  believe  in  free  speech  for  all  men,"  Huber 
proceeded.  "  It's  better  than  Lincoln  coffee  any  day, 
and  so  if  there  is  any  one  here  who  would  like  to  ask 
questions  before  we  go  on  further,  let  him  do  so  and  I'll 
try  to  answer  them." 

Ad  Sparger  promptly  availed  himself  of  the  privilege 
and  inquired  whether  freeing  the  slaves  would  put  up 
the  price  of  whiskey  to  twenty-five  cents  a  drink  as  he 
had  been  told  it  would. 

"I've  no  doubt  of  it,"  answered  Huber  gravely  amid 
shouts  of  laughter,  "  for  the  demand  Avould  be  so  much 
bigger." 

"Mr.  Huber,"  said  Doctor  Heifer  Avhen  the  merriment 
had  subsided,  "  you  say  that  conventions  are  to  be  held, 
and  so  on  ;  but  the  government  may  not  care  for  any  of 
these  things  and  go  right  ahead  in  spite  of  them.  Now 
I  want  to  know,  and  of  course  we  all  would  like  to  know, 
whether  in  that  case  you'd  advise  the  use  of  other  and 
stronger  remedies  ?  " 


222  E]SrEMIES    IN   THE    REAR; 

"  Hem,"  stammered  Huber,  "let's  see,  your  name — ■ 
hem  !  —  is  "  — 

"  Ho  !  My  name  is  Henry  Heifer  —  Doctor  Heifer  — 
and  I  ain't  at  all  ashamed  of  it,  Mr.  Huber.  I  live  at 
Haltfest  over  there." 

"  Bully  for  you,  doctor,  give  it  to  him  again,"  said 
Hartnagel  in  a  loud  voice. 

"Oh,  yes,  'Doctor  Heifer,'  yes,"  said  Huber.  "I 
should  have  known  you  to  be  sure.  We've  heard  of  you 
over  in  Lancaster  County." 

"  Glad  of  it.     I  was  born  there,"  retorted  Heifer. 

"  In  answer  to  your  question,  Doctor  Heifer," 
said  Huber,  "  I  would  make  reply  that  if  the  administra- 
tion will  not  listen  to  the  people,  much  stronger  measures 
will  probably  be  recommended  and  used." 

"And  what  might  those  measures  be?"  again  asked 
Heifer.     "We're  all  interested  to  know." 

"Doctor  Heifer,  I've  been  told  that  you're  not  a 
friend  of  the  people,"  said  Huber  evidently  vexed,  "  and 
I" 

"  I  am  a  friend  of  the  people  and  it  may  be  that  in 
this  I  have  the  advantage  of  you,  Mr.  Huber,"  inter- 
rupted Heifer  boldly.  "At  any  rate  I'm  here  by  invita- 
tion, for  all  honest  men  were  invited." 

"Very  well,  Doctor  Heifer;  men  have  a  right  to  differ," 
answered  the  Knight,  "  and  so  I  differ  with  you  as  to 
your  friendliness  and  will  say  that  some  things  are  told 
only  certain  true  men." 

"Who  are  they  ?  "  asked  Hartnagel  quickly. 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  223 

"My  friend,  all  in  good  time,  as  the  hangman  said," 
replied  Huber  suavely.  A  laugh  followed  at  Tom's 
expense.  He  relished  it  poorly  and  only  for  Heifer 
would  have  spoken  roughly. 

"Now,  Mr.  Huber,  I  would  like  to  ask  a  serious  question, 
one  that  concerns  us  all,  and  especially  me  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace,"  said  Squire  Zweispringer. 

"Go  ahead,"  answered  Huber,  starting  a  little. 

"  We  understand  that  you  come  in  the  interest  of  the 
Golden  Circle,"  said  Zweispringer.  "We  want  peace  in 
our  neighborhood,  and  I  ask  whether  the  whole  town- 
ship may  not  be  put  under  a  heavy  fine  if  we  have  any- 
thing to  do  with  this  thing  ?  " 

Every  one  listened  attentively  to  the  squire  and 
Huber's  reply  was  eagerly  awaited.  The  Knight  lost 
his  cool  manner  and  replied  impetuously. 

"  Who  says  I  come  in  the  interest  of  the  Golden 
Circle  ?  No  one  does,  but  I  will  say  that  Abe  Lincoln 
hasn't  dared  to  interfere  with  the  Knights  in  Indiana. 
They're  entirely  too  numerous  to  be  trifled  with." 

"  And  another  thing  concerns  us  very  much  to-day," 
said  Doctor  HeKer.  "  A  constable  can  call  on  all  of  us 
to  help  him  make  an  arrest  of  a  lawbreaker  if  he  is 
unable  to  execute  his  warrant  alone.  The  government 
of  this  state,  in  the  person  of  Governor  Curtin,  has  just 
called  for  50,000  men  to  defend  the  commonwealth 
against  invasion.  Has  he  a  right  to  do  this  ?  Has  a 
government  the  right  to  compel  citizens  to  help  it 
arrest  those   who  trouble  it  ?  " 


224  ENEMIES    IN   THE   BEAR; 

Philip  Huber  had  hardly  anticipated  such  questions 
when  he  made  his  generous  offer  and  was  evidently  fast 
losing  his  temper.  His  floridity  suddenly  became  very 
pronounced. 

"  If  the  cause  of  the  government  is  just,  then  I  say 
yes,"  he  answered  hotly,  "  but  if  it  is  unjust,  then  I  say 
no,  a  thousand  times  no.  Our  forefathers  rebelled 
against  England  for  the  reason  they  were  treated  bad, 
and  our  government  is  no  longer  from  God  but  is  given 
over  to  the  devil." 

"  He's  got  you  now,  doctor,"  said  Christopher  Stettler. 
There  was  much  excitement  and  the  crowd  pressed 
closer  up  to  the  platform. 

"  Be  quiet  a  moment,  I'll  give  him  one  now,"  whis- 
pered Heifer  to  Tom  Hartnagel. 

"  Do  you  say  then  ?  " the  doctor  began. 

"  Hold  your  mouth,"  yelled  Pete  Prantman. 

"Let  him  speak,"  said  Huber  to  his  lieutenent. 
"Free  speech;  no  Lincohi  busmess  here." 

"  Pete,  let  me  give  you  a  fresh  plaster  for  your  face,"  said 
Heifer."  '■'■  It  looks  bad  yet.  —  Mr.  Huber,  I  was  going  to 
ask  whether  you  say  that  the  cause  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States  is  mijust  in  the  present  difficulties  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  answered  the  Knight  promptly.  Perhaps  by 
such  as  were  able  logically  to  link  this  and  that  together 
a  great  arm  might  have  been  seen  slowly  to  arise  and 
begin  to  reach  out  toward  him.  But  it  was  not  visible 
at  that  moment  and  so  the  doctor  pushed  Huber  most 
cruelly  with  another  question  still. 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  225 

"  And  that  therefore  we  ought  not  to  respond  when 
the  government  calls  for  help  and  should  keep  others 
from  responding  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  again  answered  Huber ;  and  the  arm  came 
closer. 

"And  you  make  yourself  the  judge?"  quickly  asked 
Heifer. 

"  With  the  other  people,  yes." 

"  Huber,  let  me  tell  you  in  all  kindness  that  you 
are  using  dangerous  language  and  are  engaged  in 
dangerous  business,"  said  Heifer,  pale  but  calm. 

"  And  let  me  teU  you,  Doctor  Heifer,"  retorted  Huber 
excitedly,  "  that  when  I  want  yom*  opinion  I'll  let  you 
know.      Until  then  keep  it  to  yourseK." 

"  Very  well.  Perhaps  though  you  may  need  my  help 
sooner  than  you  think  for." 

And  he  did. 

"You  people,  you  see  what  it's  coming  to,"  said  the 
Knight  addressing  the  crowd  again.  "  You're  in  danger 
of  being  dragged  from  your  homes  to-night  and  being 
taken  to  Harrisburg  by  Lincohi  hirelings  who  want  to 
make  money  out  of  you.  And  here  we're  thi^eatened  by 
men  who  are  no  doubt  pushed  on  by  others  simply 
because  we  express  our  honest  opinions  in  a  public  meet- 
ing. They're  sent  here  to  catch  us  with  their  questions. 
Alas !  thou  beloved  ground !  "  exclaimed  the  orator 
lugubriously  lifting  his  eyes  and  hands  toward  the 
heavens  though  addi-essing  the  earth,  "  what  shall  we 
do?     If  this  persecution  doesn't  stop,  we  must  rise  in 


226  ENEMIES   ZN"  THE   EEAE; 

our  miglit,"  he  cried  with  svidden  vehemence,  "  and 
sweep  the  ape  in  the  White  House  and  all  who  sym- 
pathize with  him"  —  looking  significantly  at  Doctor 
Heifer  —  "from  the  face  of  the  earth.*" 

Hartnagel  could  be  restrained  no  longer. 

"  You're  a  confounded  traitor  and  ink-licker,"  he 
shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  clenching  his  fist  and 
shaking  it  at  Huber,  "  and  I'm  ready  to  lead  a  company 
of  men  against  you  and  your  crowd  if  you  dare  show 
your  cowardly  faces." 

The  words  were  barely  spoken  before  Pete  Prantman, 
Zellon  and  Pfannkuchen,  who  had  been  waiting  for  this 
opportunity,  rushed  toward  the  brave  ex-soldier.  Zel- 
lon was  foremost  and  Tom  knew  his  man.  Calling  on 
his  boys  to  stand  by  him  he  concentrated  all  his  strength 
to  meet  the  ruffian.  Avoiding  a  furious  blow  by  a 
quick  movement,  before  Zellon  could  recover  himself  he 
seized  him  around  the  body  and  hurled  him  with  such 
force  upon  a  rude  bench  that  happened  to  be  standing 
near  as  to  knock  him  senseless.  Tom's  companions 
kept  off  Pete  and  his  party  for  a  time,  but  blood  was 
now  up  and  it  was  a  question  of  a  few  moments  only 
when  Tom  and  his  friends  would  be  overpowered.  Zel- 
lon soon  regained  consciousness.  He  drew  a  revolver 
and  was  in  the  act  of  discharging  it  point-blank  at 
Hartnagel  when  Doctor  Heifer  knocked  the  weapon  out 
of  his  hand,  and  the  ball  buried  itself  in  the  ground. 

Tom  was  again  rushing  upon  Zellon  and  a  general 
conflict  seemed  imminent,  but  Huber  interposed.     The 


OE,   A   GOLDEN   CIKCLE   SQUARED.  227 

Knight  saw  that  if  the  quarrel  were  not  stopped  at  once, 
his  cause  would  suffer  grave  injury  in  these  parts.  So 
he  ran  into  the  throng  of  combatants  and  by  word  and 
action  urged  his  friends  to  desist. 

"  Let  these  men  talk,"  he  cried ;  "  if  you  beat  them, 
it'll  be  made  an  excuse  for  Lincoln  hirelings  to  arrest 
and  imprison  some  of  us." 

But  Tom  Hartnagel  was  now  fully  aroused  and  with 
an  oath  he  made  a  rush  at  Huber  himself. 

"  You  dirty  traitor,  you're  the  cause  of  the  whole 
trouble,"  he  exclaime'd,  at  the  same  time  aiming  a  blow 
at  the  Golden  Circle  orator.  Fortunately  Pfannkuclien 
succeeded  in  partly  turning  aside  the  stroke,  but  in 
dodging  to  avoid  it  Huber  struck  his  forehead  very  hard 
against  an  old,  gnarled  apple  tree.  A  large  patch  of 
skin  was  peeled  off  and  for  a  short  time  the  womid  bled 
profusely.  Doctor  Heifer,  who  during  the  mel^e  had 
been  hustled  around  rather  unceremoniously  though  no 
.one  had  ventured  to  strike  him,  was  now  loudly  called 
for. 

"  Ho ! "  he  exclaimed  good-naturedly,  "  it's  never 
quite  safe  to  abuse  the  doctor  too  freely  or  to  declare 
yourself  independent  of  him.  —  Take  him  to  the  house 
and  I'll  make  a  good  soldier  of  him  yet.  He  isn't  hurt 
very  much,  but,  by  the  great  Schinnerhannes  !  if  that 
blow  of  Tom  Hartnagel's  had  hit  him  fair  —  whew !  " 
and  he  gave  a  long  whistle.  "  I  tell  you  Tom  is  a  rous- 
er,"  he  continued ;  "  Tom  Hyer  and  Yankee  Sullivan 
would    be    mere    children    before    bin.  —  Zellon,    you 


228  ENEMIES   IN   THE   BEAE. 

can  thank  me  for  knocking  the  pistol  out  of  your  hand. 
I  saved  you  from  the  gallows.     Be  careful  now  once." 

In  reply  Jake  scowled  darkly  and  hobbled  away. 

Hostilities  ceased  when  Huber  was  hurt  and  the 
meeting  came  abruptly  to  an  end.  Another,  to  be  held 
at  Mike  Halm's  two  weeks  later,  was  however  appointed 
by  the  young  man  who  accompanied  the  Knight  in  his 
travels  as  a  sort  of  esquire,  and  "  only  lovers  of  the 
white  race  "  were  invited  to  attend  it.  The  majority  of 
those  present  were  delighted  with  Huber.  He  was 
surely  the  Messiah  who  would  bring  deliverance  from 
the  threatened  bondage  of  Abe  Lincoln.  , 

"  I  wish  Charlie  could  have  heard  this  man,"  said 
Frederick  Ruthvon  to  a  friend.  "  But  no,"  he  added 
sadly,  "he  would  only  have  mocked  him  and  perhaps 
have  helped  that  Hartnagel  to  beat  him." 

"  I  wonder  whether  Hartnagel  can't  be  prosecuted  for 
his  assault  on  you  ?  "  Hans  Prantman  asked  Huber. 

"  No,  let  him  go,"  replied  Philip  looking  humble 
enough  with  his  bandaged  head.  "  We  can't  afford  to 
have  the  attention  of  the  government  turned  toward  us 
at  all  at  present.  When  the  Knights  are  once  as  strong 
here  as  they  are  in  Indiana,  then  we'll  talk  Dutch  to 
Abe  Lincoln.     There's  a  good  time  coming  fast." 

"It  wovild  come  to-night  if  I  had  my  way,"  said 
Margaret  Prantman  viciously. 

Philip  Huber  nursed  his  hurt  and  braced  himself  for 
the  work  of  the  evening.  What  that  was  let  the  next 
chapter  tell. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

HTJBER    ORGANIZES    A    LODGE    OF      KISTIGHTS    OF      THE 
GOLDEN    CIRCLE. 

Tom  Hartnagel  was  on  his  way  liome  from  tlie  meet- 
ing in  the  orchard  when  suddenly  Sharp  Billy  emerged 
from  the  high  corn  by  the  wayside  and  looked  up  and 
down  the  road. 

"  Come  a  little  mto  the  corn,  Tom,"  said  he  all  out  of 
breath  "  I  want  to  see  you  —  something  to  tell  you." 

Tom  complied  wondering  what  was  the  matter. 
Having  gone  some  distance  among  the  corn,  Billy  in  a 
sort  of  half-whisper  told  Hartnagel  that  he  had  seen 
Jim  Fetzer  and  Yonie  Zwi^vwelberg,  both  before  and 
since  the  meetmg,  go  around  among  the  people  and 
quietly  whisper  to  this  one  and  that  one.  Several  times 
they  nodded  toward  the  barn  and  by  dmt  of  sharp  listen- 
ing he  had  caught  the  words  "  lodge,"  "  barn,"  "  to- 
night." Pete  Prantman  had  also  called  him  "  That 
witch's  boy  "  and  threatened  dire  things  if  he  didn't  go 
about  his  business. 

"  Pm  sure,"  said  Billy  in  conclusion,  "  they're  going 
to  give  another  lesson  in  that  barn  to-night  on  going  to 
jail." 

"Oho !  Billy,  you're  right,"  exclaimed  Tom.  "  I 
noticed  Yonie  myself  sneaking  around.     Now  hold  your 


230  ENEIVIIES   IN   THE   EEAB ; 

moutli  and  keep  out  of  the  way,  for  Pete'll  lialf  kill  you 
if  he  finds  you  around  their  place." 

"  Oh,  I  like  Pete  first  rate  and  I  hope  he'll  learn  his 
lessons  Avell.  Now  you  stay  here  until  I  get  away.  See 
you  to-morrow — if  not  sooner,"  he  added  in  a  lower 
tone  with  his  right  hand  placed  to  his  mouth  like  a 
speaking-trumpet.  He  then  cautiously  approached  the 
fence,  and  again  looked  up  and  down  the  road.  Seeing  no 
one,  he  jumped  into  the  highway,  and  the  need  of  pru- 
dence having  ceased,  he  sped  toward  home  in  the  setting 
sun,  singing 

"O-hi-6,  O-hi-6,  oh,  this  pleasant  O-hi-6, 

With  my  love  I'm  sailing  down  on  this  pleasant  O-hi-o-o-o-o !  " 

prolonging  the  final  vowel  until  his  breath  was  com- 
pletely exhausted. 

Tom  hurried  home  and  asked  his  employer's  permission 
to  be  absent  until  the  following  morning,  at  the  same 
time  throwing  out  a  hint  as  to  his  mission.  He  then 
ate  a  hasty  supper  after  which  he  called  on  Captain 
Ruthvon  and  communicated  his  suspicions. 

"  And  if  a  lodge  of  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  is  to 
be  started,"  said  he,  "I'm  bound  to  know  the  secrets 
without  taking  the  oath,"  with  which  he  unfolded  a 
plan  of  procedure  he  had  hastily  conceived. 

"•Capital !  "  said  the  captain.  "Find  out  all  you  can 
about  Huber's  doings.  It  concerns  the  government 
much  to  know  what  he  is  up  to.  And  I  am  sure  that 
nothing  you  do  in  the  way  of  exposing  him  will  be  left 
unrewarded  by  Uncle  Sam." 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  231 

"  Reward !  I  want  no  better  reward  than  to  see 
Huber  hanged,"  replied  Hartnagel. 

''  I  wish  I  could  go  with  you,  Tom,  but  I  must  pos- 
itively rest  a  few  days  longer  before  I  stir  out,  else  I'll 
be  laid  up  entirely,  Doctor  Heifer  says." 

"Good  night,  captain.  I  hear  your  father  coming  and 
he  doesn't  hke  me,  besides  I've  got  to  hurry.  I'll  see 
you  to-morrow  I  think." 

"•Goodnight,  Tom.  Be  very  careful,  and  mind,  if 
there  is  trouble  of  any  kind,  communicate  with  me  just 
as  soon  as  possible." 

Night  had  hardly  fairly  fallen  over  the  earth  when  the 
ex-soldier  cautiously  entered  the  fodder-gangway  of 
Prantman's  barn.  He  ascended  the  ladder  in  the  "  hay- 
hole  "  and  found  himself  in  the  hay-mow.  Thence  he 
climbed  up  a  second  ladder  into  the  loft  of  the  Schweitz- 
er barn.  This  loft  in  these  barns  is  over  the  great 
threshing  floor,  or  "dresh-den,"  and  there  the  oats 
are  usually  deposited  when  drawn  in  from  the  field. 
Tom  found  the  loft,  or  "  ober-den,"  filled  mth  sheaves 
almost  to  the  comb  of  the  roof,  but  he  burrowed  among 
them  and  hid  himself  snugly  near  the  edge,  so  that  his 
head  was  free  and  he  could  readily  hear  what  might  be 
said  in  an  ordinary  tone  of  voice  on  the  floor  below, 
where  he  rightly  surmised  Huber  would  hold  his  meet- 
mg. 

He  had  barely  stowed  himself  away  before  he  heard 
Pete  Prantman's  voice  and  presently  its  owner  and  Jake 
Zellon  entered  with  several   lanterns.     The   floor   had 


232  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

been  swept  and  the  platform  carried  in  from  the  orchard 
together  with  some  chairs  and  benches. 

"  If  that  Ruthvon  nigger  and  Hartnagel  and  them 
fellows  knew  what  was  going  on,  they'd  be  wild  to  get 
in,"  said  Pete  to  his  companion. 

"  Pete,  look  once  here,"  replied  Zellon,  showing  a  pis- 
tol.    "  Maybe  I  won't  miss  next  time." 

"  Maybe  I  wouldn't  miss  either,  you  dumb-headed 
traitor  you,"  muttered  Hartnagel  in  his  hiding-place. 

Quietly  one  by  one  those  who  had  been  notified  by 
Jim  Fetzer  and  Yonie  Zwiwwelberg  in  the  afternoon 
drojDped  in  until  about  thirty-five  or  forty  men  Avere 
gathered  on  the  threshing  floor.  Then  Phihp  Huber 
and  Hans  Prantman  came  in  together,  the  former  still 
wearing  a  bandage  around  his  head  to  protect  the  sore 
spot  made  by  the  apple  tree.  He  gave  directions  to  have 
all  the  doors  and  the  small  window  carefully  closed  to 
prevent  the  light  from  being  seen  by  any  one  outside, 
and  ordered  two  young  men  to  stand  guard  back  of  the 
barn.  Fortunately  for  Tom  Hartnagel  the  building  was 
not  searched.  Later  in  the  history  of  the  Knights  they 
became  very  wary,  looking  through  their  meeting-places 
diligently  for  spies  before  commencing  proceedings,  plac- 
ing sentries  and  requiring  pass-words  from  all  who  ap- 
proached. But  none  save  friends  knew  of  the  meeting 
to-night,  Huber  thought,  and  hence  a  preliminary  search 
was  needless  and  two  guards  were  amply  sufficient. 

Philip  Huber  was  not  devoid  of  personal  vanity  and 
delighted,  as  most  men  do,  in  the  sense  of  power  which 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  233 

his  position  gave  him,  and  in  the  admiration  with  wliich 
so  many  viewed  him.  He  was  in  his  glory  to-night. 
When  all  was  ready  he  mounted  the  platform  and  began 
a  harangue  in  which,  as  usual,  he  appealed  to  the  selfish- 
ness and  political  prejudices  of  his  hearers.  Then  he 
asked  whether  all  present,  without  exception,  were  ready 
to  join  the  lodge  of  Sons  of  Liberty,  which  he  had  come 
to  organize  then  and  there.  All  answered  in  the  affirm- 
ative except  Carl  Schlapphammel,  son  of  Muhlenberg 
Schlapphammel.  Carl  was  much  frightened  by  the  ques- 
tion and  said  he  had  not  understood  Yonie  Zwiwwelberg 
properly  as  to  the  nature  of  the  meeting  else  he  would 
not  have  come,  for  he  had  heard  that  any  one  taking  the 
oath  required  to  join  would,  if  found  out,  forfeit  to  the 
government  all  he  had  and  be  put  in  the  army. 

"Who  told  you  such  nonsense?"  demanded  Huber 
sharply. 

"  It  was  somebody  who  finds  out  about  everything," 
Carl  answered.  Questioned  further  he  very  reluctantly 
admitted  that  it  was  Katrina  Galsch's  boy,  Sharp  Billy. 

At  this  point  Tom  Hartnagel  was  startled  by  a  slight 
rustling  in  the  straw  not  far  away  and  the  sound  as  of  a 
noise  made  when  one  holds  his  nose  and  his  breath  to 
prevent  laughter  and  is  not  quite  successful.  But  the 
spy  did  not  dare  to  move  for  fear  of  discovery.  Hearing 
nothing  more  just  then,  he  persuaded  himself  that  a  rat 
or  a  mouse  had  made  the  noise.  But  on  the  floor  below 
a  difiiculty  arose.  Huber  tried  to  show  Carl  Schlapp- 
hammel that    Billy  had    imposed  on  his    credulity  and 


234  ENEMIES   IN   THE   HEAR  ; 

that  it  was  perfectly  safe  to  take  the  obligation  of  a 
Knight,  but  all  in  vain. 

"  I  don't  do  it ;  my  father  might  lose  his  farm,"  he 
protested  with  Pennsylvania  Dutch  stubbornness. 

"  We'll  make  him  take  the  obligation  whether  he  wants 
to  or  not,"  said  Jake  Zellon  with  a  terrible  oath. 

"  You  may  do  with  me  what  you  will  but  I  won't 
join,"  said  Carl,  pale  as  death,  but  with  stolid  resolute- 
ness. 

There  was  considerable  rustling  among  the  sheaves 
overhead,  but  not  enough  to  attract  attention. 

"  You  must  swear  .not  to  say  anything  to  any  one 
about  our  meeting  here,"  Huber  said  to  the  young  man 
after  considering  a  moment.  But  Carl  made  a  dash  for 
liberty  Hke  a  flash.  Before  any  one  could  stop  him 
he  had  reached  the  "hay-hole"  through  the  narrow 
side-door.  In  a  moment,  dark  as  it  was  inside,  he  was 
down  in  the  fodder-gangway  and  out  m  the  barnyard. 

Above  him  in  the  straw  Tom  Hartnagel  again  heard 
the  sound  of  suppressed  laughter,  and  was  now  sure  that 
some  one  was  in  hiding  with  him.  On  the  threshing 
floor  there  was  confusion,  not  to  say  consternation. 

"  He  daren't  say  anything  ;  we'll  kill  him  if  he  does," 
said  Andrew  Pfannkuchen. 

"  It's  to  be  regretted  that  you  people  weren't  more 
careful  in  selecting,  but  after  all  he  knows  nothing  and 
we're  gathered  in  lawful  meeting,"  said  the  leader  with 
a  look  of  vexation.  Two  more  men  were  however  sent 
out  to  act  as  guards  at  the  lower  approach  to  the  barn, 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  235 

after  which,  though  there  was  visible  uneasiness  among 
the  men  because  of  Schlapphammel's  defection  and 
escape,  Huber  proceeded  with  his  labors. 

"Friends,"  he  began,  again  stretching  forth  his  hand 
as  if  to  lay  hold  on  something,  "  I  say  once  more  that  we 
are  gathered  in  defence  of  our  persons,  our  homes  and 
our  liberties.  We  dare  do  this,  for  the  immortal  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  written  by  Jefferson  Da  —  I 
mean  by  Andrew  Jackson,  guarantees  us  the  right  of 
life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  Our  liberties 
are  in  danger  and  so  are  our  lives,  in  order  that  niggers 
may  be  set  free  !  We  want  to  protect  ourselves  against 
Abe  Lincoln  and  those  who  in  our  midst  sympathize 
with  him  and  his  hirelings,  and  also  to  make  sure  that 
when  the  Southern  soldiers  come  we  will  not  be  dis- 
turbed." 

"  Clean  down  honest  that  is  good,"  exclaimed  a  chorus 
of  embryo  Knights. 

"  Hurrah  for  Jeff  Davis,"  shouted  Jake  Zellon. 

"  Of  course  before  I  could  explain  more  about  the 
Sons  of  Liberty  to  you,  I  had  to  ask  you  whether  you 
were  all  willing  to  join  them,"  resumed  Knight  Huber, 
"  and  you  all  now  see  how  necessary  that  was.  Now  I 
will  tell  you  a  little  more  about  them.  They  are  called 
Sons  of  Liberty,  after  the  brave  men  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  who  strove  against  the  tyranny  of  Great 
Britain.  Sometimes  they  are  called  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Cu-cle,  because  every  member  loves  liberty  and 
is  true   as  gold.     You  have   all  heard  of   them.     Alto- 


236  ENEMIES    LN"   THE   BEAR; 

gether  in  Kentucky,  Missouri,  Oliio  and  Indiana,  they 
number  over  a  million  of  members  and  many  are  joining 
every  day.  Men  like  C.  L.  Vallandigham,  Dan  Voor- 
hees,  A.  E.  Stevenson  and  numerous  others  are  behind 
it,  and  Governor  Morton  of  Indiana  is  afraid  of  them 
and  only  sits  and  watches  them.  If  we  are  careful,  we 
can  soon  be  as  strong  here  as  they  are  there.  Then  we 
can  protect  ourselves  and  stop  all  drafts.  Now,  I  was 
initiated  last  summer  in  all  the  mysteries  of  the  order, 
and  am  a  member  in  full  and  regular  standing.  I  am 
authorized  to  organize  lodges  in  six  comities  here  in 
Pennsylvania,  Berks  being  one  of  them.  You  have  all 
agreed  to  jom  this  great  order.  You  will  therefore  take 
off  your  hats,  lift  up  your  right  hand  to  heaven  and 
put  yovir  left  hand  on  your  bosom.     So." 

When  all  had  placed  themselves  in  the  required  posi- 
tion, Huber  repeated  the  following  form  in  the  deepest 
and  most  solemn  tones  at  his  command : 

"  You  do  solemnly  swear  in  the  presence  of  Almighty 
God  and  of  the  lodge  that  you  will  never,  except  when 
properly  authorized,  reveal  the  secrets  of  the  order  of  the 
Sons  of  Liberty,  known  also  as  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Circle,  of  which  you  herewith  become  a  member,  whether 
these  pertain  to  the  signs,  grips  or  pass-words  of  the 
same,  or  to  any  of  their  acts  ;  and  that  you  will  to  the 
best  of  your  ability  promote  all  its  objects  and  interests. 
So  help  you  God  !  " 

All  assented  by  bowing  their  heads,  and  Huber  pro- 
ceeded : — 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  237 

"  I  ask  you  : 

1.  Are  you  in  favor  of  resisting  by  all  proper  means 
in  your  power  tlie  act  called  the  Draft  Act,  according  to 
the  oath  you  have  just  taken? 

2.  According  to  the  same  oath,  are"  you  in  favor  of 
abducting,  and  if  called  upon  for  that  purpose,  will  you 
help  to  abduct,  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  so-called  President 
of  the  United  States,  if  this  becomes  necessary  to  stop 
this  unholy  war  ? 

3.  Will  you  protect  deserters  from  the  army  so  far 
as  lies  in  your  power,  and  will  you  also  help  those  who, 
if  drafted,  refuse  to  report  to  the  Lincohi  officers  ? 

4.  Will  you  help  to  return  all  runaway  slaves  to 
their  lawful  owners  ?  " 

To  each  of  these  questions  an  emphatic  affirmative 
was  given  by  all  the  new  Knights. 

"  Now,"  said  Huber,  "  you  will  come  forward  and 
sign  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  which  you  can  read 
afterwards.  You  will  also  pay  the  initiation  fee,  which  as 
you  all  know,  is  one  dollar." 

"  Thou  ground ! "  exclaimed  Pete  Prantman,  "  I 
haven't  got  any  money  with  me." 

"  Hold  your  mouth,"  said  his  father  wrathfully ;  "  we'll 
fix  all  that  with  Huber  afterwards,  for  of  course  he'll 
pay  for  his  board  and  so  on." 

There  was  considerable  snickering  among  the  younger 
men  at  this  thrifty  remark,  and  Tom  Hartnagel,  who 
was  getting  so  cramped  up  that  his  bones  ached  from 
lying  so  long  in  one  position,  and  who  was  wishing  some 


238  ENEMIES   IN   THE  BEAR; 

rumpus  might  occur  below  to  enable  him  safely  to  change 
his  position,  again  heard  the  sound  of  smothered  laughter 
among  the  sheaves. 

"  I  am  now  ready  to  communicate  the  grips  and  signs 
to  you,"  said  the  leader  of  the  Knights  when  all  but  the 
two  Prantmans  had  paid  their  initiation  fee.  "I  have 
not  time  to  give  them  all  to-night.  You  will  learn  them 
gradually  at  later  meetings.     And,  first,  as  to  the  grip." 

Every  one  watched  and- listened  eagerly,  and  no  ear 
was  sharper  than  Tom  Hartnagel's  up  in  his  hiding- 
place. 

"  When  a  man  gives  you  the  grip,"  continued  Huber, 
"  he  does  it  by  giving  you  the  first  finger  of  his  right 
hand  and  touching  your  Avrist  with  the  second  finger,  and 
of  course  you  do  the  same  way  to  him.  So !  Look  !" 
giving  it  to  Frederick  Ruth  von. 

"  The  grip,  remember,  is  to  be  given  only  for  purposes 
of  recognition.  For  example,  you  meet  a  man  and  would 
like  to  know  whether  he  is  a  member  of  our  order.  In 
a  careless  way  —  so  —  you  say  to  him  '  R.  D.',  which 
means  Royal  Democrat.  If  now  he  answers  '  H.  O.', 
which  means  Hands  Off  and  is  taken  from  the  motto  on 
one  of  the  early  flags  of  our  country  —  '  Don't  tread  on 
me''  ;  —  if  he  answers  '  H.  O.',  then  you  ask  him  whether 
he  knows  anything  about  a  grip,  and  if  in  response  he 
gives  you  the  grip  in  the  manner  I  have  described  it  to 
you,  you  may  be  very  sure  he  is  a  Knight  and  need 
not  be  afraid  to  talk  to  him." 

Looks  of  wonder  were  exchanged. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  239 

"Let  me  next  instruct  you  in  the  sign  of  fellowship. 
It  is  yeiy  simple  and  is  given  when  there  is  danger  and 
no  time  for  ceremony.  You  take  your  right  hand  and 
raise  up  your  hat  or  cap  three  times,  or  your  hand  alone 
if  you  have  nothing  on  your  head  at  the  time  —  so. 
Look  once !  Remember  that  we  have  thousands  of 
members  in  both  armies.  If,  therefore,  either  of  them 
should  come  to  your  farm  or  place  of  business,  you  have 
only  to  give  this  sign  and  your  person  and  your  property 
will  be  perfectly  safe." 

"  Well  now,  who  would  have  thought  this  ?  "  whis- 
pered the  men  to  each  other.  "  This  here  one  knows 
much,"  and  then  a  shout  went  up  —  "Hurrah  for  the 
Huber !  " 

"  We  have  a  pass-word  when  you  wish  to  come  into  a 
lodge  in  session  and  so  on,"  resumed  Philip  with  proud 
self-consciousness  when  the  applause  had  subsided. 
"  This  is  of  course  changed  every  month.  This  month 
it  is  Jackson,  and  next  month  it  will  be  something 
else." 

He  now  ordered  the  guards  to  be  relieved,  and  when 
they  came  in  he  went  over  the  whole  ground  agam,  after 
which  he  invited  all  to  ask  questions.  No  one  thought 
of  any  just  then. 

"  Now  I  would  like  to  address  a  few  more  words  to 
you,  if  you  are  not  too  tired,"  said  Huber. 

Oh,  no,  they  replied.  Let  him  go  ahead.  They 
could  listen  to  him  all  night. 

"  But  though  the  cause  is  good,"  said  Hartnagel  to 


240  ENEMIES   EST   THE   REAR; 

himself  among  the  oats,  "  by  the  great  Schmnerhannes, 
I  can't  stand  this  thing  all  night !  " 

"  Yet,  friends,  to-morrow  is  Sunday,"  answered  Huber, 
unconscious  of  the  last  part  of  the  conversation,  "  and  it 
would  not  be  right  to  stay  here  after  midnight." 

"  That's  certainly  true ;  besides  we  couldn't  keep 
awake  in  church  either,"  said  Frederick  Ruthvon. 

"  Therefore  I  will  speak  only  a  few  words  more,"  said 
Huber.  "  I  want  to  tell  you  one  or  two  things  which  of 
course  I  could  not  mention  this  afternoon  where  so  many 
Radicals  were  i^resent.  And  don't  forget  that  all  that  is 
said  and  done  here  is  under  the  oath  you  have  taken.  — 
You  remember  that  your  Doctor  Heifer  —  who  seems  to 
have  turned  against  those  he  gets  his  living  from  — 
asked  me  whether  stronger  measures  would  be  recom- 
mended if  the  government  failed  to  listen  to  our  resolu- 
tions, and  that  I  answered  that  much  stronger  ones 
would  in  that  case  probably  be  brought  forward  and 
used,  but  refused  to  tell  him  what  they  would  be  because 
he  was  not  a  friend  of  the  people.  Now  I  say  to  you 
that  you  must  use  stronger  remedies  right  away." 

Closer  the  new  Knights  pressed  around  their  leader. 
Savage  and  weird  they  looked  in  the  dim  lantern-light. 
Dangerous  enough  they  were  too  though  usually  so 
peaceable,  even  as  a  gentle  dog  becomes  fierce  when  it 
imagines  itself  in  danger  of  losing  the  bone  it  is  gnaw- 
ing. 

Watching  them  closely  to  note  the  effect  of  his  words, 
Huber  continued  :  —  "  You  want  to  make  it  hot  for  the 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  241 

enrolling  officers  if  they  come  around  again.  Get  be- 
hind trees  and  fences  where  you  cannot  be  seen,  and 
when  these  devils  who  would  sell  you  for  a  dollar  while 
they  are  crying  over  the  imaginary  wrongs  of  niggers, 
come  along  give  them  a  «lose  of  good  coarse  salt  in  the 
calves  of  their  legs,  or  if  you  think  they  are  worth  it,  of 
fine  shot !  " 

The  initiates  approved  these  sentiments  by  word  and 
look,  and  waxing  bold  the  leader  went  on  with  increased 
animation  :  —  "  And  if  the  draft  comes  off,  we  will  all 
stand  together.  Get  out  your  guns  and  pistols  and  buy 
new  ones  besides,  and  defend  yourselves,  and  if  that  fails 
we  will  have  still  stronger  remedies.  Meanwhile  if  you 
are  enrolled  and  have  a  bodily  disability,  I  advise  you  to 
attend  exemption  day  at  Reading  on  the  22nd.  You 
will  get  off,  and  it  will  throw  the  rascals  off  their  guard 
and  make  them  less  watchful.  Our  next  meeting  will 
be  in  Mike  Halm's  barn  two  weeks  from  to-night.  Hunt 
up  good  men  and  bring  them  with  you  for  initiation. 
Come  to  the  afternoon  meeting  also,  and  be  ready  to 
meet  at  my  call  at  any  time." 

Steadily  the  great  arm  was  coming  closer. 

Tom  Hartnagel  gnashed  his  teeth  and  took  advantage 
of  the  applause  that  followed  the  close  of  Huber's  re- 
marks to  change  his  position.  As  soon  as  he,  could 
make  himself  heard  Pete  Prantman  asked  whether  the 
salt  and  the  shot  remedies  might  not  also  be  tried  on 
other  Lincohi  hirelings,  and  especially  on  Lincohi  spies, 
as  well  as  on  enrolling  officers  ? 


242  EMEMIES    IN   THE   EEAH ; 

"Not  luiless  they  make  themselves  very  offensive,  for 
we  would  soon  get  into  trouble,"  replied  Huber. 

"  There's  tliree  men  in  this  neighborhood  bad  offen- 
sive to  every  honest  man,"  said  Pete.  "  One  is  a  fellow 
who  came  here  from  another  sl^te  and  hates  us  and  says 
we're  only  Dutch  dumb-heads.  The  second  one  has 
been  in  the  Lincoln  army  and  Huber  there  knows  how 
he  acted  this  afternoon ;  and  the  other  wears  the 
nigger  unicorn  now  and  abuses  honester  men  than  him- 
seK  and  "  —  with  an  insulting  look  at  Ruthvon,  senior, 
—  "is  a  disgrace  to  his  parents." 

An  angry  flush  passed  over  the  countenance  of  the  latter. 

"Pete  Prantman,"  said  he  in  a  calm  tone  but  with 
suppressed  emotion,"  these  men  are  better  than  you  and 
I  warn  you  to  give  care,  else  you'll  get  your  skin  full 
sooner  than  you'll  Avish,  now  !  " 

"Will  you  break  your  oath?"  said  Pete  in  great 
excitement. 

"  I  ain't  breaking  it  and  won't,  but  I'll  say  right  here 
that  I  'm  ashamed  I  belong  to  the  same  society  you  do," 
retorted  Ruthvon. 

"  Friends,  don't  forget  yourselves,"  interposed  Huber. 
"  Be  careful  how  you  use  your  guns.  Let  us  now  go 
home.     I  bid  you  all  good  night." 

The  first  meeting  of  Knights  in  the  township  of 
Copton  was  over.  It  was  almost  midnight.  Several 
offers  of  hospitality  were  made  Knight  Huber,  but  he 
declined  them  all  on  the  plea  that  he  must  journey 
homeward  that  night. 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUAEED.  243 

When  at  last  all  were  gone  and  everything  was  quiet 
in  the  barn  Hartnagel  slowly  and  cautiously,  and  not 
without  a  good  deal  of  pain,  crept  out  of  his  hiding- 
place  and  stretched  himself.  He  started  when  a  hand 
was  laid  on  his  leg  and  a  voice  said  "  R.  D.  !  " 

"By  my  sex,"  he  exclaimed,  "it's  as  dark  as  three 
bags  here,  but  is  that  you,  Billy  ?  " 

"  That's  me,  clean  down,  and  like  yourself  I've  been 
stealing,"  answered  the  hopeful  youth. 

"  You  young  hex  you,  why  didn't  you  tell  me  you 
was  going  to  hide  in  the  barn  ?  You  came  near  spoil- 
ing everything,"  said  Tom. 

"  Because  you  didn't  tell  me  you  was  going  to  hide 
either,"  Billy  responded  laughing,  "and  I  thought  one 
of  us  ought  to  be  present  without  being  initiated ;  you 
know  Carl  Schlapphammel  wouldn't  stay.  I  came  near 
laughing  loud  out  when  he  ran  off." 

"  Yes,  and  if  you  had,  both  of  us  might  have  got 
killed  and  all  our  plans  would  have  been  spoiled.  I 
could  hear  you,  but  they  didn't,  and  we've  got  the 
traitors  now.     Let's  go,  Billy." 

Carefully  they  descended  to  the  fodder-gangway  and 
soon  were  safely  out  of  the  building  and  in  the  high- 
way. 

"  Good  night,  Billy.  Nothing  to  nobody  now  except 
your  mam,  until  I  see  Captain  Ruthvon,"  said  Tom. 

"  You  know  me,  Tom,"  repHed  the  lad.  "  Nothing 
to  nobody  except  mam  until  I  see  you  again,"  and  Billy 
would  have  yielded  up  life  sooner  than  to  have  broken 


244  ENEMIES   IN"  THE   EEAR. 

his  pledge  to  Tom  Hartnagel.  He  reached  home  long 
after  midnight,  but  weary  as  he  was  he  rehearsed  all 
the  night's  adventures  to  his  foster-mother.  She  made 
his  task  easy  by  providing  him  a  good  supper  and  prais- 
ing him  for  his  wit  and  courage. 

"Mam,"  said  he  as  he  climbed  into  his  loft,  "I'm  so 
tired  that  I'm  bad  afraid  I  won't  get  to  church  to  hear 
Mr.  Dox  to-day  !  " 

Early  Sunday  morning  Tom  Hartnagel  called  on 
Captain  Ruthvon  and  related  what  he  had  learned. 

"Did  my  father  join?"  asked  Charles  Ruth  von 
anxiously. 

"  He  did,"  replied  Tom  very  reluctantly. 

A  look  of  pain  passed  over  the  captain's  face. 

"  The  organization  of  this  lodge  is  a  serious  matter," 
said  he.     "  I  wish  I  had  not  come  home." 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

THE   FORTTJNE-TELLEE,   HAS    VISITORS   AGAEST. 

Promptly  at  nine  o'clock  on  Sunday  evening  Tom 
Hartnagel  entered  the  dwelling  of  the  fortune-teller  on 
the  mountain.  He  had  little  superstition  in  his  composi- 
tion and  less  faith  in  Katrina  Galsch's  powers.  He 
knew  very  well,  however,  that  by  means  not  at  all 
supernatural,  she  was  well  acquainted  with  the  private 
affairs  and  secrets  of  numerous  individuals.  He  was  per- 
suaded that  for  some  reason  she  was  friendly  to  the  Union 
cause  and  also  to  him  and  Captain  Ruthvon  personally. 
If  there  was  any  plot  on  foot  to  injure  either,  she  would 
likely  know  it.  He  remembered  what  was  said  in  the 
barn  on  the  previous  night,  but  perhaps  Katrina  had  some 
definite  information.  Hence,  when  she  invited  him  to 
her  habitation  and  hinted  that  she  might  be  able  to  tell 
"him  something  that  concerned  him  and  Charles  Ruthvon, 
he  at  once  resolved  to  accept  her  invitation. 

She  was  waiting  for  him,  though  he  had  sent  no  word 
of  his  coming.  She  knew  human  nature  well  enough  to 
believe  he  would  come.  She  sat  in  her  rocking  chair 
reading  a  ponderous  board-backed  German  Bible.  On 
the  hearth  a  few  sticks  of  wood  were  blazing,  for  the 
evening  was  damp  and  chilly.  According  to  custom  he 
sat  down  without  waiting  to  be  invited. 


246  ENEIMTES    IN    THE   BEAR; 

"  You  received  my  word,  I  see,"  she  said,  fixing  her 
dark  eyes  upon  him.  "  Will  you  mind  telling  me  what 
occurred  at  the  barn  last  night?  I  want  to  see  how 
good  my  Billy's  memory  is." 

Hartnagel  briefly  rehearsed  the  events  of  the  evening. 

"  That  was  good,  ach  Gott !  "  said  the  sibyl  when  he 
had  concluded,  and  both  had  a  hearty  laugh. 

"  Now,  you  are  a  friend  to  Billy,"  she  continued,  rising 
and  bolting  the  door,  "  Zellon  and  Prantman  are  not,  and 
Pete  puts  up  Bodie  to  annoy  me,  the  gallows-bird! 
So  I'll  do  you  a  good  turn  if  I  can.  Do  you  know, 
Tom  Hartnagel,  that  these  two  carrion  crows  would 
murder  you  and  Charlie  Ruthvon  if  they  could  safely 
doit?" 

Then  she  proceeded  to  tell  him  that  on  the  preceding 
Monday  she  had  sent  Billy  to  Reading  on  errands  and 
that  he  came  home  late.  When  near  Ruthvon's  house 
he  heard  two  men  behind  him  and  stepped  into  the 
bushes  by  the  road.  The  men  were  Zellon  and  Prant- 
man on  their  way  home  from  "  The  People's  Hotel,"  and 
as  they  passed  him  Billy  overheard  what  is  already 
known  to  the  reader. 

"  They'll  be  emboldened  in  their  designs,"  she  con- 
cluded, "  because  Huber  encouraged  them  indii-ectly  last 
night,  and  because  they  got  out  of  the  barn-burning  scrape 
so  well." 

"  They  certainly  have  some  cause  for  spite  against  us," 
said  Tom,  after  musing  a  moment. 

"And  do  you  know  that  Prantman  is  urged  on  by 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  247 

that  lovely  sister  of  his  ?  Ach  Gott !  her  hate  is  con- 
suming her." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Tom,  rising  up  and  walking  the 
floor.  "  What  a  difference  between  her  and  Sallie 
Vonneida." 

"  Hartnagel,  don't  you  tell  Sallie  about  what  you 
heard  last  night.  You  know  how  we  women  are, — -  we 
can't  keep  a  secret.  Ha  I  ha  I  —  Say  !  "  she  exclaimed, 
noticing  that  Tom  cast  his  look  to  the  floor,  "  have  you 
told  her  already,  you  ketzer  ?  " 

"  Do  you  think,"  he  replied  in  a  tone  of  great  con- 
tempt, "  that  a  girl  like  Sallie  would  blab  anything 
out  that  I  tell  her  ?  I  have  only  to  say,  '  Sallie,  nothing 
of  this  out,'  and  it's  nailed  up  like  a  coffin." 

"  So  you've  told  her  ?  "  persisted  Katrina, 

"  It's  none  of  your  business,  now,  and  .  I'm  not  a 
fortune-teller,"  retorted  Tom  somewhat  warmly. 

"  All  right,  Tom  Hartnagel,  but  I  know  you  want  to 
expose  Huber,  and  you  can  easy  see  there'll  be  less 
chance  to  do  it  and  to  defeat  Pete  Prantman's  plans 
about  you  and  the  captain  if  this  thing  gets  out,  for 
they'll  all  be  more  on  their  guard." 

"  That's  so.  I  see  that,  clean  down,  and  I'll  tell 
Sal  —  it  won't  get  out." 

"  And  it's  likely  I  can  this  very  night  furnish  you 
more  proof  of  the  enmity  of  the  two  men  we've  men- 
tioned. I'm  gomg  to  do  what  I  very  seldom  do  — ■ 
permit  you  as  one  patron  to  hear  what  another  patron 
tells  me  in  confidence." 


248  ENEMIES    IN   THE   HEAR; 

"  But  I'm  no  patron  of  yours  and  you  know  I  have  no 
faith  in  your  power  to  tell  fortunes,  Katrina,"  said  Tom, 
stopping  in  his  walking  and  looking  at  the  sibyl.  "  I'm 
going  for  the  emergency  to-morrow,  but  you  don't  know 
&nj  more  than  I  do  myself  whether  I  shall  come  back 
ahve  or  not." 

"  Faith  or  none,"  she  replied  returning  his  gaze,  "  I 
believe  you  are  a  true  man  and  that  I  can  trust  you." 

"  Of  course  you  can  trust  me,"  said  he,  "  and  therefore 
will  you  tell  me  why  you  pretend  to  do  things  no  human 
being  can  do  ?  " 

"  People  want  to  ask  questions,  and  I  might  as  well 
answer  them  myself  as  to  leave  the  job  to  some  one 
else,"  she  replied.  "  I  usually  give  comfort  and  satisfac- 
tion and  that  is  a  good  work,"  with  which  she  arose  and 
proceeded  to  get  the  skull  out  of  her  strong  box.  She 
placed  it  on  the  table  and  lighted  the  taper  within. 

"  Ain't  you  afraid  that  our  Lord  God  will  punish  you 
before  your  time  by  permitting  the  devil  some  night 
to  come  and  wring  your  neck  or  carry  you  off  ?  "  Tom 
asked  as  he  watched  her  in  her  work.  He  noticed  that 
a  shudder  passed  through  her  frame. 

"  Tom  Hartnagel,  I  don't  fear  God,"  she  answered 
hoarsely  but  looking  straight  at  her  visitor,  "  for  I  don't 
believe  that  He  is,  and  the  devil  is  a  creature  invented 
by  priests  to  get  money  out  of  people,  with  whom  we 
now  frighten  children  and  dupe  fools  and  villains.  The 
spirit  that  dwelt  in  the  body  of  which  this  skull  was 
a  part  is  as  dead  as  the  skull  itself." 


OR,    A    GOLDEK    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  249 

The  strong  ex-soldier  shuddered  in  turn  in  spite  of 
himself. 

"  Katrina  Galscli,  it  is  right  that  one  of  your  trade 
should  hold  such  awful  views,"  he  said. 

She  walked  to  the  door  and  listened. 

"  I  may  be  worse  than  the  devil  you  believe  in,"  she 
said  in  a  low  voice,  "  yet  I  sometimes  do  people  a  little 
good.  —  Quiet !  "  she  whispered  as  a  footstep  was  heard 
approaching  the  house.  "  Get  in  there  quick  and  be 
perfectly  still  whatever  you  may  hear.  Sit  on  my 
bed  there,  and  if  I  come  in,  don't  say  a  word.  You  can 
easily  hear  all  that's  said  in  this  room,"  and  she 
motioned  him  toward  the  little  chamber  to  which  she 
went  on  the  occasion  of  Pete  Prantman's  visit.  — 
"  Yes,"  she  said  in  response  to  a  loud  knocking  at 
the  door  and  an  angry  voice  demanding  admittance. 
"I'm  coming ;  I  can't  always  leave  the  door  unfas- 
tened." 

Earlier  this  same.evening  in  the  mill-room  of  Christian 
Mehlhuber's  mill  sat  two  men  in  earnest  conference. 
One  was  Pete  Prantman,  the  other  Jake  Zellon.  A  few 
days  before,  William  Rambeutel  had  had  a  visitor  in  the 
person  of  a  constable  from.  Cold  Spring  township, 
Lebanon  County,  it  may  safely  be  predicted  on  informa- 
tion furnished  by  Zellon.  The  official  insisted  on  taking 
William  with  him,  on  the  ground  that  Vickey  Hauser 
wanted  an  immediate  arrangement  made  about  the  en- 
gagement which  the  former  had  broken.  As  Zellon  was 
a  good  miller  Mehlhuber  had  hired  him  to  help  run  the 


250  ENEMIES   DSr   THE   REAR; 

mill  until  Rambeutel's  return  from  his  enforced  visit 
beyond  Second  Mountain.  Pete  had  come  to-night  to 
confer  with  his  lieutenant  on  matters  of  importance  to 
both. 

"  I  tell  you,  Jake,  if  it  could  —  but  we  daren't  do  that 
yet." 

"•Do  Avhat,  you  Prantman  pig?  Speak  out,"  said 
Zellon  irritably. 

"  You  know  well  enough  what  I  do  mean  without  that 
I  say  it." 

"  Maybe  and  maybe  not,  but  I  know  if  Hartnagel 
or  Ruthvon  was  in  my  power  in  the  wheel-room  just 
now,  I'd  "  — 

"  Hush  !  "  said  Pete  nervously  ;  "  don't  talk  so  loud, 
you  Schwernoether  !  Don't  you  remember  what  hap- 
pened here  once  before  ?  " 

"■Well,  then,  Avhat  do  you  want  ?  "  asked  Jake  impa- 
tiently. 

"  Look  at  our  faces,  Jake.  We're  bound  to  have 
revenge  on  the  man  who  done  that.  But  he's  going 
back  to  the  army  and  as  long  as  there's  so  good  a  chance 
of  his  running  in  the  way  of  a  Southern  bullet  or  bay- 
onet, or  getting  sick  and  dying,  it's  foolish  to  go  too  far, 
ain't  it  ?  But  while  he's  home  we  can  make  his  life  and 
Hartnagel's  miserable  and  get  some  revenge  and  satisfac- 
tion at  once." 

"  How  ?  "  inquired  Zellon  eagerly. 

"  You  know  what  Huber  said  last  night,"  answered 
Pete,  '•'•  and  how  could  these  two  rascals  be  more  often- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  251 

sive  than  they  are,  I'd  like  to  know?  Let's  use  the 
means  he  said  we  might  in  such  cases,  and  if  the  shot 
turns  out  to  be  a  little  coarse,  why  so  much  the  better, 
huh?" 

"  Go  ahead,  Pete.  You  and  me'U  hang  together  yet! — 
Wait,  let's  have  a  good  pull  at  the  juice." 

"Now,"  said  Pete  after  they  had  taken  a  drink  of 
apple-jack  out  of  the  black  jug,  "-to-morrow  night  there's 
to  be  a  sort  of  party  —  something  new,  and  too  good  for 
common  people  —  at  Squire  Zweispringer's  house.  I 
hear  that  a  lot  of  people  from  Womelsdorf  and  Reading 
is  to  be  there,  and  of  course  the  Yankee's  daughter  and 
that  Ruthvon  too,  for  he's  out  again  I  think.  Now, 
when  he's  on  his  way  home  from  there  how  would  it  be 
to  try  Ruber's  medicine  on  him  once  ?  " 

"  That's  bully ! "  exclaimed  Zellon  with  an  oath. 
"  Here,  Pete,  let  the  juice  grow  this  way  again.  Here, 
G'sundheit !  —  But  hold  on,  Pete,  we  can't  do  it,"  he 
added  after  drinking. 

"Why  not?" 

"  Because  the  Yankee's  daughter  might  be  with  him 
in  spite  of  what  Galsch  has  said  about  a  Southern  girl, 
you  know,  and  to  shoot  at  Ruthvon  in  the  dark  when 
she  is  with  him  in  the  carriage  would  be  ticklish  busi- 
ness. I  might  easy  hit  the  wrong  one.  My  mother 
has  often  told  me  I'll  surely  hang  some  day,  but  if  I 
must,  I  want  to  hang  for  Hartnagel,  for  I'll  never  for- 
give him  till  I  stand  over  the  dog's  dead  body." 

"  Domierwetter !  "  said  Pete  with  great  emphasis,  "  if 


252  ENEAIIES   IN   THE   REAR; 

I  thought  she  wouldn't  come  around  yet,  I'd  say  shoot 
anyhow." 

"But  you'll  have  to  do  the  shooting  then,"  said  Zellon 
sullenly. 

"  But  what'll  we  do,  Jake  ?  " 

"  Why,  we'll  shoot  his  horse  instead.  I  believe  it'll 
scare  him  from  the  neighborhood,  for  he'll  think  he  may 
be  killed  any  day." 

"  That's  so,"  assented  Pete,  his  face  looking  a  trifle 
meditative  for  a  moment.  "  But  all  depends  on  what 
Galsch  says.  We  must  see  the  witch  to-night  yet. 
She'll  be  waiting  for  us  - —  for  you,  —  for  I  told  her 
you'd  be  there  at  half  eleven  o'clock  about.  This  is 
prison  business  and  I'll  do  nothing  without  consulting 
her.  If  she  says  '  No,'  then  hands  off,  for  she  says  it  on 
Sunday  night.  All  you  need  ask  her  is  whether  what 
you're  going  to  do  to-morrow  night'U  succeed." 

"  You're  very  free  making  engagements  for  me," 
replied  Zellon,  "  but  I'll  go,  for  I'd  rather  have  her 
opinion  than  Glaucy  Jones,'  though  he  done  well  for  us, 
you  know.  All  she's  told  us  so  far  has  come  out  to 
a  hair." 

"  That's  so,"  said  Pete  with  much  animation.  "  Come, 
Jake,  it's  getting  late  and  it'll  take  us  near  an  hour 
to  get  to  her  hut." 

Having  taken  another  drink  from  the  jug,  the  two 
conspirators  left  the  mill  and  were  on  their  way  to  the 
fortune-teller's.  The  road  led  up  the  mountain  in 
a  south-easterly  direction.     The  track  was  rough  and  the 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  253 

region  was  very  wild  and  desolate.  The  baying  of 
Bodie's  hound  and  the  hooting  of  an  owl,  with  the 
consciousness  of  the  errand  they  were  on,  made  the 
night  seem  doubly  dark  and  weird  to  Pete  and  kept  him 
nervous.  Only  his  thirst  for  revenge  could  have  im- 
pelled him  to  make  a  journey  like  the  present.  Though 
he  said  nothing  he  w^as  very  glad  when  he  saw  the  moon 
rising  over  the  eastern  hills.  Zellon  apparently  took  no 
note  of  the  "  voices  of  the  night,"  but  trudged  rapidly 
and  silently  on. 

"  Wait,  Zellon,"  said  Pete  when  they  had  reached 
a  large  rock  about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  sibyl's 
place.  "  I'll  stay  here  for  you.  Go,  and  don't  let  the 
old  hex  get  too  much  out  of  you." 

"  Go  yourself,  then,"  snarled  Jake.  "  What's  the  use 
of  trying  to  keep  anything  from  her  ?  She  knows  it  all 
anyhow.  The  devil  serves  her  faithfully  but  he'll  get 
his  reward.  They  say  he  came  to  take  her  one  night, 
but  he  couldn't  because  she  happened  to  have  the  Bible 
on  her  lap." 

"  Hold  your  mouth  and  go,"  said  Pete  shivering  and 
looking  over  his  shoulder.  Zellon  left  his  companion 
and  in  a  few  minutes  reached  Galsch's  door.  He  lifted 
the  latch  but  found  the  door  fastened. 

"  The  old  devil's  servant  has  her  door  locked  to- 
night," he  growled,  "  but  that  wouldn't  keep  her  master 
out  I  think. —  Halloo  !  there,  Galsch,  let  me  in." 

Galsch  gave  Tom  Hartnagel  plenty  of  time  to  hide 
away  and  then  slowly  undid  the  fastenings  and  admitted 


254  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

Zellon,  whose  voice  she  easily  recognized.  He  came  in 
swearing  at  her  tardiness  and  blinked  a  good  deal  under 
the  light.  He  started  back  a  few  steps  when  he  saw 
the  skull  staring  at  him  from  the  table. 

"  Is  this  your  Sunday  evening  God-service  ?  "  said  he 
sitting  down  on  a  stool  by  the  fire.  "  The  devil  is  the 
preacher,  I  think  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  replied  in  the  same  vein,  "  and  sometimes 
he  preaches  better  sermons  than  old  Dox.  Would  you 
like  to  hear  one  ?  " 

"  God  defend  us,  no  !  "  he  exclaimed ;  —  "  say,  is  that  a 
cat  coming  out  of  the  kammer  or  is  it  ?  "  — 

"  Oh,  that's  only  Gewitter,  my  black  cat,"  interrupted 
Galsch,  smiling.  But  when  Gewitter  passed  back 
of  him  he  turned  on  the  stool  and  kept  his  eye  on  the 
huge  felis  until  it  had  quietly  disposed  itself  on  an  old 
rug  by  the  hearth. 

"  Zellon,  I  was  looking  for  you  to-night,"  said  the 
sibyl  when  Jake  once  more  turned .  toward  her.  "Is 
there  somewhat  that  I  can  do  for  you  ?  " 

"Now,  look  here  once,"  he  replied  moving  up  closer 
to  her,  "  are  you  sure  that  young  gallows-rope  is  not 
around  here  ?     Or  is  he  in  bed  and  fast  at  sleeping?  " 

"  The  poor  boy  went  to  Reading  this  morning  on  a 
Sunday  errand  for  me  and  hasn't  come  home  yet,"  she 
replied  readily. 

'•  But  I  don't  trust  '  the  poor  boy,'  and  you  know 
right  well  too  why,"  he  said  angrily.  "  Why  did  you 
let  him  give  witness  about  the  fire  ?  " 


OR,    A   GOLDEN"   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  255 

"  How  could  I  help  it  ?  "  she  retorted.  "  Boys  will 
talk,  you  know,  and  he  had  said  something  that  gave 
the  Yankee  the  hint,  and  lawyer  Richards  of  course  got 
it  all  out  of  him.  Besides,  I  knew  you'd  get  clear  and 
told  you  so." 

"I  don't  trust  him,  I  tell  you,  and  if  I  catch  him, 
watching  us,  I'll  turn  his  neck  around." 

"•No,  Jake  Zellon,  you  won't,"  said  the  sibyl,  her 
dark  eyes  suddenly  sparkling  like  an  angry  serpent's. 
"  If  you  hurt  him,  it  won't  go  good  with  you.  Don't 
venture  it ! " 

Zellon  Avould  have  fought  Tom  Hartnagel  bravely, 
but  he  was  actually  cowed  before  the  anger  of  this 
woman  of  darkness. 

"  Then  keep  him  from  spying  around,"  he  said  after  a 
moment  but  in  a  tone  unusually  humble  for  him, 

"  Now,  what    do  you  want,  you    gallows-rope  ? "  she 
said.      "•  It's  getting    late  and   Billy  may  be  home  any 
time." 
•     "I  want  to  ask  a  question." 

"  To-night  I  answer  no  question  under  two  dollars." 

"  Here,  you  screw,"  said  Jake  handing  her  the  money 
Pete  had  given  him  for  the  purpose. 

"  This  is  the  night  when  the  soul  of  St.  Augustine 
passed  from  purgatory  into  heaven,  and  on  that  night 
the  revelations  are  always  very  full  and  clear,"  said  the 
sibyl,  taking  the  money. 

''It's  a  jail  matter,"  said  he,  "and  so  I'm  anxious  to 
know  whether  I  can  do  it  without  getting  into  trouble, 


256  ENEMIES   IN"  THE   REAB ; 

You've  told  so  many  things  true  that  I  know  you  can 
tell  this  too." 

She  arose  from  her  chair  and  laid  her  hand  on  his 
shoulder. 

"  In  spite  of  all  I  can  tell  you,  you  will  take  your  own 
way,"  she  said,  with  inborn \lignity  and  with  a  tinge  of 
sadness  in  her  voice,  "  for  you  are  impelled  to  your  doom 
by  a  power  you  cannot  resist." 

"•  I  know  I'll  be  hanged,  for  my  mother  has  often  told 
me  so,"  he  replied  with  a  shudder. 

"  Look !  It's  drawing  toward  midnight.  We've  no 
time  to  lose,"  said  Galsch  pointing  at  the  clock. 

"See  here,  you  witch,"  exclaimed  the  ruffian  regain- 
ing his  reckless  manner,  "  everything  people  tells  you  is 
in  the  strictest  confidence,  ain't  it  ?  " 

"Sure  as  the  world  stands,"  she  answered  reproach- 
fully, lowering  her  chin  and  wrinkling  her  brow.  "  Do 
you  think  Katrina  Galsch  would  betray  the  confidence 
given  her  by  any  one?" 

"  All  right  then,"  said  he.  "  To-morrow  night  I  want 
to  scare  Charlie  Ruthvon  a  little." 

Somebody  listened  sharply  in  the  chamber  and  Galsch 
gave  a  hasty  glance  in  that  direction  as  though  she  knew 
the  manner  of  the  listener  and  would  give  him  warning 
to  keep  quiet. 

"  That  is,  Pete  Prantman  does,  and  you  are  to  do  the 
scaring,"  she  remarked  coolly  in  answer  to  her  visitor's 
statement. 

"  I  told  Pete  there  wasn't  any  use  trying  to  hide  any- 


OR,    A   GOLDEIST   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  257 

thing  from  you,"  said  the  conspirator  rising  up,  "  and  I 
might  as  well  tell  you  all." 

And  he  did,  just  as  he  and  Pete  had  planned  it  awhile 
before,  a  pair  of  ears  in  the  kammer  catching  all  he  said. 

"  Don't  tell  Pete  I  told  you,"  he  said  in  conclusion. 

"  All  in  confidence,"  she  replied,  secretly  pleased  with 
his  acknowledgment  of  her  power ;  —  "I  will  answer 
your  question  truly." 

She  bolted  the  outer  door  carefully  and  then  proceeded 
to  renew  the  taper  in  the  skull,  an  operation  which  Jake 
watched  with  a  deep  interest,  but  not  so  intently  that  he 
could  not  every  now  and  then  bestow  a  glance  on  the 
quietly  sleeping  cat,  as  if  not  yet  quite  sure  that  it  was 
not  his  dark  majesty  in  disguise.  The  great  Dutch  clock 
indicated  that  midnight  had  almost  come.  Katrina 
hastily  produced  a  zodiacal  chart  and  consulted  it  a 
moment. 

"  It  seems  good  so,"  she  said,  as  if  to  herseK  ;   "  but  he 
will  get  her  yet." 
"  Who'll  get  who  yet  ?  "  asked  Zellon  quickly. 

"  Quiet,  you !  "  she  said  sharply.  She  then  walked  to- 
ward the  apartment  where  Tom  was  concealed,  saying  in 
a  low  voice  to  Zellon  :  "  Don't  stir,  whatever  you  hear 
or  see.  I'm  going  to  consult  — -never  mind  !  "  and  lift- 
ing a  finger  to  her  lips  she  disappeared  within  the  door. 

While  Jake  was  watching  the  skull  Gewitter  disap- 
peared. Suddenly  the  old  clock  began  to  strike  and  at 
the  same  instant  the  voice  of  the  fortvme-teller  was  heard 
saying,  '■'•  Alle  gute  Creister  lohen  den  HerrnT^  —  mingled 


258  ENEMIES   IN  THE   EEAE ; 

with  the  noise  of  shuffling  feet,  the  mewing  and  spitting 
of  a  cat  and  a  suppressed  laugh.  A  moment  later  Galsch 
reappeared  in  the  large  room.  Her  hair  was  disheveled 
and  she  seemed  to  stagger.  Throwing  herself  into  her 
great  arm-chair,  she  heaved  a  deep  sigh. 

"  Almost  I  passed  the  midnight  hour  in  my  consulta- 
tion," she  said,  "  and  the  consequences  might  have  been 
dreadful  to  me  and  you  both.  Did  you  not  hear  the 
laugh  as  of  a  demon  ?  " 

"What  is  it,  Galsch?"  with  tremulous  voice  asked 
Zellon,  who  had  run  to  the  outer  door  and  stood  now  with 
the  latch  in  his  hand  ready  to  retreat  at  the  first  appear- 
ance of  anything  uncanny. 

"  Sit  down,"  she  said.  "  You  will  carry  out  your 
plan  without  discovery.  But  I  saw  a  bloody  hand  and 
you  may  be  wounded.     Jake  Zellon,  beware  !  " 

"  But  you're  sure  what  I  do  Monday  night  will  suc- 
ceed ?  "  he  inquired,  sitting  down  again. 

"  Just  as  I  told  you,"  she  replied. 

"  Good  so,"  said  he  in  his  old,  reckless  way.  "  That's 
all  I  want  to  succeed  now ;  the  rest  may  take  care  of 
itself." 

"  I  told  you  that  you  would  take  your  own  way,"  said 
Galsch. 

"  Galsch,  you  told  me  to  beware,"  said  Jake  rising  up 
and  preparing  to  go.  "  You'd  better  beware  too  after 
what  you  said  came  near  happening.  Don't  you  remem- 
ber the  blacksmith  over  in  Bern  township  who  sold  him- 
self to  —  Never  Mind  I  think  you  called  him  !  —  for  so 


OK,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLB   SQUAEED.  259 

many  years  of  —  Never  Mind's  —  service  ?  The  smith 
made  him  work  so  hard  one  night  ironing  a  wagon  that 
toward  morning  the  —  Never  Mind  —  claimed  his  wages, 
and  the  smith  was  found  drowned  in  three  inches  of 
water,  his  face  down  in  it.  Look  out  once,  Galsch! 
So  it'll  go  with  you  some  night." 

"  You  take  care  of  yourself  and  I'll  take  care  of  him,'''' 
she  replied  smiling.     "  Pax  vobiscum  !  " 

Zellon  left  the  house  and  rejomed  Prantman  who, 
chilled  through,  was  impatiently  waiting  for  him. 
While  walking  down  the  road  he  gave  some  account 
of  his  interview  with  the  sibyl.     Pete  listened  eagerly. 

"  Sapperlotte  !  I  tell  you  it's  good,  Jake,"  he  said 
gleefully.  "  Let's  have  revenge  and  make  it  hot  for 
Nigger  Ruthvon  and  the  Hartnagel  pig,  and  we  won't 
care  for  all  the  evil  spirits  " 

But,  alas  for  human  courage !  At  that  moment 
within  fifty  feet  of  them  from  the  woods  on  the  upper 
side  of  the  road  came  the  startlmg  cry  "  Yahoo,  Yahoo, 
Y— a— h-o-o  !  "  —  dying  away  on  the  silent  night  with 
the  mournful  cadence  which  we  are  apt  to  associate  with 
the  wail  of  a  lost  spirit.  The  two  men  fairly  leaped 
into  the  air  at  the  awful  sound,  then  started  at  a  dead 
run  as  if  all  the  evil  spirits  whom  Pete  had  defied  were 
in  full  pursuit.  Reaching  the  forks  in  the  road,  Prant- 
man turned  to  the  right  and  called  to  Zellon  to  come 
with  him.  Not  until  the  foot  of  the  mountain  was 
reached  did  they  abate  their  speed. 

"I  never  heard  him  so  near,"  said  Pete  almost  ex- 


260  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR  : 

hausted.  "  Something's  wrong.  Shall  we  give  it  up, 
Jake?" 

"  Nix,"  answered  the  latter  with  an  awful  oath. 
"  Never  !  "  and  they  went  on  to  Prantman's. 

No  sooner  had  Zellon  left  the  fortune-teller's  door  and 
his  retreating  footsteps  were  heard  than  Tom  Hartnagel 
emerged  from  the  little  room.  He  was  haK  amused  but 
very  serious  too. 

"  Don't  kill  him  Hartnagel,  so  long  as  he  doesn't 
attempt  your  life,"  said  Galsch  noticing  the  stern  look 
that  came  into  his  face  after  he  had  laughed  at  Gewit- 
ter's  part  in  the  night's  performances. 

"Oh,  no;  his  time  hasn't  quite  come  yet,"  was  the 
reply. 

As  Tom  went  down  the  road  over  which  Zellon  had 
just  gone  he  heard  the  sound  of  a  fife  and  well  knew 
who  the  fifer  was.  Presently,  closer  to  him,  he  heard  a 
voice  singing :  — 

"  Come,  come,  my  love,  and  go  with  me; 
Come,  come,  my  love,  and  go  with  me; 
Come,  come,  my  love,  and  go  with  me 
And  happy  all  the  day  we'll  be," 

with  a  ritard  movement  and  a  grand  flourish  in  the  last 
line. 

"  Why,  Billy,  here  I  see  you  again,"  said  Tom  when 
the  two  met. 

"  Oh,  it's  you,  Tom,  is  it  ? "  said  the  bright  youth 
with  affected  surprise.  "  A  lad  like  you  ought  to  be  in 
bed  at  this  time  of  night." 


OK,   A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  261 

"  Hold  your  mouth,  you  young  rascal,"  said  Hartnagel 
much  amused.  "  Don't  you  know  Jake  Zellon  is  around 
here  and  maybe  Pete  too  ?  " 

"  They  all  both  was  lately  but  they're  two  miles 
away  now,"  replied  Sharp  Billy  laughing  heartily. 

"  How  do  you  know  it  ?  " 

"  Why,  they  agreed  to  run  a  race  by  moonlight,  start- 
ing right  below  here.  I  knew  of  it  and  walked  down  to 
see  it.  And  such  running,  clean  down  honest !  I  could 
hear  the  clatter  of  their  boots  a  mile  down  the  hill. 
Barney  Butz  and  Jack  Stroud  with  their  old  engine 
would  have  been  left  out  of  sight  in  two  miles !  " 

"  You're  a  young  Deihenker,  sure,"  said  Tom  greatly 
diverted.     "  What  have  you  been  doing  ?  " 

"  Nothing  particular,"  answered  Billy  with  a  smirk. 
"No  doubt  your  dear  friend,  Peter  Prantman,  will  tell 
you  next  time  you  meet  him  in  prayer-meeting." 

"  All  right,  Billy.  You're  a  good  boy  anyhow.  And 
now  give  me  your  hand.  I  may  never  see  you  again, 
for  Tuesday  afternoon  I  go  off  to  Harrisburg  to  see  Pete 
Prantman's  Southern  friends  and  they  don't  like  me." 

"  I  wish  I  could  go  with  you  as  fifer  to  your  company 
but  my  mam  can't  spare  me,"  said  the  lad  ruefully. 

"You  are  serving  your  country  well  at  home," 
answered  his  friend.  "  Good-bye,  Billy,  and  take  care 
of  yourself." 

"  Good-bye,  Tom,"  said  Billy  trying  to  laugh.  "  Come 
home  soon." 

Going  down  the  mountain  in  the  bright  moonlight 


262  ENEMIES   m  THE   BEAR. 

Tom  again  heard  the  fife,  and  the  tune  was  "  Rally 
round  the  flag,  boys."  It  did  the  brave  fellow  good  and 
made  him  stronger  for  duty. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

AK  EXPERIMENT   THAT    WOEKED   BOTH   WAYS. 

Under  his  mother's  tender  care  Captain  Ruthvon's 
health  had  improved  rapidly,  and  early  on  Monday  morn- 
ing he  was  on  his  way  to  Reading  to  inform  the  military 
authorities  of  the  existence  of  an  organization  in  Copton 
township  having  treasonable  objects.  On  his  father's 
account  he  was  exceedingly  reluctant  to  take  this  step, 
but  duty  to  his  country  seemed  paramount  to  all  other 
considerations.  His  affection  for  his  father  was  strong 
as  ever  and  he  hoped  that  the  latter  would  presently  see 
his  error  and  withdraw  from  the  lodge  of  Knights.  He 
had  an  interview  with  Colonel  Erb,  and  several  tele- 
graphic messages  passed  between  Reading  and  Washing- 
ton, with  the  result  that  Captain  Ruthvon  was  instructed 
quietly  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  Knights  in  the 
vicinity  of  Haltfest  during  the  remainder  of  his  fur- 
lough. 

His  errand  satisfactorily  done,  the  captain's  ardent 
thoughts  turned  again  to  Blanche  Chetwynde.  Mr.  Chet- 
wynde  and  Frank  had  visited  him  as  soon  as  they  knew 
he  was  at  home,  but  he  had  not  seen  Blanche  since  his 
return  from  the  army.  He  resolved  to  call  at  Mr.  Chet- 
wynde's  before  going  home.  The  family  greeted  him 
most  cordially.  Only  Blanche  showed  a  slight  feeling  of 
constraint  and  seemed  unhappy. 


264  ENEMIES   EST  THE  REAB  ; 

"  Charlie,  I'm  sowing  the  hill  field  and  you  must  ex- 
cuse me  now,"  said  Jabez  after  some  conversation. 
"  Come  over  often ;  we  shall  always  be  glad  to  see  you 
here." 

"  Miss  Blanche,  you  are  invited  to  Susie's  party 
to-night  and  so  am  I,"  said  the  captain  after  a  httle 
further  discourse.  "  Will  you  accept  of  me  as  an  es- 
cort ?  " 

She  replied  hesitatingly  that  she  had  not  fully  de- 
cided to  go. 

"  Certainly  you  will  go,  child,"  said  Mrs.  Chetwynde ; 
"  it'll  do  you  good.  You've  been  out  so  little  since  you 
came  back  from  Connecticut.  Besides,  Susie  would  be 
so  disappointed." 

Blanche  blushed  when  she  observed  how  intently  the 
captain  was  looking  at  her  and  remarked  that  she  had 
found  so  much  to  do  at  home  that  she  had  not  had  time 
to  visit  much. 

Evening  was  coming  on  and  Charles  prepared  to  leave. 

"Where  is  Tom  Hartnagel?"  he  inquired.  "I  pro- 
pose that  we  all  go  over  to  the  depot  from  Susie's  to- 
night and  see  him  and  the  other  boys  off." 

"  Tom  ?  Didn't  you  see  him  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Chetwynde. 
"He  went  over  early  this  morning  to  see  you  and  again 
at  noon,  but  didn't  find  you.  He  said  he  wasn't  going 
away  until  to-morrow  because  he  must  see  you  first." 

"Then  I  must  go  at  once,  for  he  has  probably  gone 
over  again.  —  Miss  Blanche,  I  will  come  for  you  at 
eight  o'clock.  " 


OR,     A   GOLDEK   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  265 

Hartnagel  had  gone  to  Ruthvon's  not  only  to  see  tlie 
captain  but  also  to  discharge  his  duty  to  Sallie  Von- 
neida  as  a  faithful  lover  should.  The  fact  that  he  was 
obliged  to  go  so  often  enabled  him  to  perform  it  well. 
On  the  third  visit  he  had  a  rather  stormy  encounter 
with  Frederick  Ruthvon. 

"  I'm  tired  of  having  black-snakes  running  backward 
and  forward  over  my  premises,"  said  the  latter,  "  when  I 
know  that  very  likely  they're  plotting  against  the  liber- 
ties of  their  neighbors.  Yd  as  soon  you'd  stay  away  as 
come  here,  Tom  Hartnagel,  —  in  fact,  the  first  would 
please  me  best." 

But  as  this  conversation  occurred  by  the  kitchen  door, 
Sallie  heard  what  Mr.  Ruthvon  said  and  at  once  spoke 
up  with  freedom  and  bluntness. 

"  If  it's  too  good  here  for  Tom  Hartnagel,  it's  too 
good  for  me  too,  Fred  Ruthvon,"  she  said,  and  at  once 
made  preparation  to  go.  Mrs.  Ruthvon,  whose  gentle 
manner  had  much  influence  over  the  young  woman,  suc- 
ceeded however  in  placating  Sallie  and  she  resumed  her 
work. 

Having  called  Sallie  Vonneida  "A  bully  girl"  and 
told  Ruthvon,  senior,  he  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  himself, 
Tom  hurried  off  before  a  reply  could  be  made.  He  met 
the  captam  on  the  road  and  communicated  to  him  at 
leng-th  what  he  knew  of  the  plan  of  the  two  conspirators. 

"  Their  experiment  will  work  both  ways,"  said  the 
captain.  "  If  possible,  Zellon  must  be  caught  in  the 
act." 


266  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR  ; 

"  I'm  with  you,  captain.  I'm  not  going  now  tiU  to- 
morrow or  the  day  after.  I  can  be  of  more  use  at  home 
just  now  than  in  Maryland." 

"Bravo  !  Tom.  You  are  the  feUow  for  me !  Now, 
I  propose  this:  —  I  could  of  course  disappoint  the 
rascals  by  going  a  roundabout  way  to-night,  but 
sooner  or  later  they  would  find  their  opportunity 
anyhow,  and  it's  best  to  let  them  have  it  when  we 
are  prepared  to  meet  them.  And  if  I  can  capture 
Zellon,  it  may  result  in  breaking  up  the  Knights  at 
the    start." 

His  further  thought,  to  which  he  did  not,  however, 
give  expression,  was  that  if  Zellon  were  taken  in  the 
act,  his  father  would  perhaps  abandon  an  organization  to 
which  such  a  miscreant  belonged. 

The  direct  road  from  Haltf est  to  Mr.  Ruthvon's  house 
led  through  Muhlenberg  Schlapphammel's  woods  and 
the  two  friends  agreed  that  very  likely  there,  as  best 
adopted  to  his  purpose,  Jake  Zellon  would  ti-y  his  ex- 
periment. It  was  arranged  that  each  man  was  to  carry 
a  rifle  and  a  pistol ;  that  the  captain  should  hitch  up 
old  Sim,  a  horse  of  little  value  and  very  gentle,  and  at 
the  appointed  time  carry  Blanche  to  Squire  Zwei- 
springer's  and  then  excuse  himself  on  the  plea  of  impor- 
tant business ;  and  that  Tom  should  then  meet  him, 
after  which,  at  half  past  ten,  they  would  drive  back 
toward  Ruthvon's. 

"  Now,"  said  the  captain  when  they  were  leaving  the 
village,  "  don't  hurt  the  fellow  if  it  can  be  avoided." 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  267 

"  All  right,"  said  Tom,  but  with  a  strong  mental  res- 
ervation. 

The  carriage-top  was  np  and  the  captain  di'ove.  Tom, 
leaning  back  so  that  he  could  not  be  discerned,  sat  with 
his  trusty  rifle  in  readiness  for  instant  use.  Charles 
pretended  to  relate  an  mcident  in  his  war  experience 
and  spoke  with  his  ordinary  volume  of  voice.  The 
moon  had  just  risen  when  they  entered  Schlappham- 
mel's  woods. 

"Hold  your  lines  steady,"  whispered  Tom,  "for  I 
think  if  the  rascal's  courage  hasn't  failed  him,  we'll 
hear  from  him  soon." 

They  felt  somewhat  as  they  used  to  feel  when  ap- 
proaching a  masked  battery,  or  what  might  prove  to  be 
one,  down  in  Virginia. 

"  It  was  a  gallant  affair.  We  drove  the  rebels  right 
before  us  down  the  hill  and  into  the  woods  beyond.  I 
wish  some  of  the  rebels  in  Copton  township  could" 

A  sharp  report  rang  out  on  the  air  and  a  disguised 
voice  said  in  shrill  tones  "  Leave  here,  Ruthvon.  Some- 
body is  on  your  track.  Next  time  you  die.  Beware 
the  draft !  " 

Poor  old  Sim  reared,  plunged  and  fell.  Hartnagel 
leaped  to  the  ground  and  when  the  voice  in  the  woods 
ceased  speaking  he  cried  "  Halt !  "  but  hearing  retreat- 
ing footsteps  he  discharged  his  rifle  guided  by  the 
somid.  A  yell  of  pain  and  an  oath  followed  the  report. 
Then  rapid  running  was  again  heard.  Tom  plunged 
into    the  woods  in  hot   pursuit,    but   suddenly  all   was 


268  ENEMIES    IK   THE    HEAR; 

quiet,  and  as  it  was  very  dark  among  the  trees  in  spite 
of  the  moon,  further  search  would  have  been  vain  and 
Tom  returned  to  the  road.  Here  he  found  the  captain 
trying  to  loosen  the  wounded  horse  from  the  harness. 

"  We  can't  manage  this  thing  without  a  lantern  and 
we  failed  to  brmg  one,"  said  Charles. 

Tom  started  for  help  and  went  by  Mr.  Ruthvon's  to 
his  employer's  house.  In  a  short  time  he  was  back 
with  Mr.  Chetwynde  and  a  lantern.  The  horse's  hurt 
proved  to  be  only  a  flesh-wound  and  the  animal  was 
able  to  be  led  home.  Mr.  Ruthvon,  hearing  strange 
voices,  came  out  of  the  house  and  inquired  what  was  the 
matter. 

"  Well,  father,  some  one  has  shot  poor  Sim  from 
behind  the  bushes  over  in  Schlapphammel's  woods," 
Charles  replied. 

"Yankee  Chetwynde,  is  your  daughter  hurt?"  asked 
Frederick  Ruthvon  hastily,  turning  from  his  son  to  his 
neighbor. 

"  She  isn't,  I'm  glad  to  say,  neighbor  Ruthvon," 
answered  Jabez,  "  but  it  can't  be  reckoned  to  the  man 
who  shot  your  horse  that  she  is  well.  She  wasn't  in  the 
carriage  it  seems." 

Charles  felt  a  thrill  of  pleasure  when  he  heard  the 
question  and  noticed  the  anxious  tone  in  which  it  was 
asked. 

"  Have  you  any  notion,  Charlie,  who  shot  Sim  ? " 
said  Mr.  Ruthvon. 

"  I'm  not  certain,"  answered  Charles. 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  269 

"  If  I  knew  "  —  Mr.  Ruthvon  began. 

"  You'll  probably  know  in  good  time  if  a  certain  yell 
meant  anything,"  Tom  Hartnagel  broke  in,  "  and  wlien 
you  do  find  out  you'll  not  be  much  surprised,  for  if  I 
ain't  wrong  I've  seen  the  man  in  Philip  Huber's  com- 
pany." 

This  was  a  keen  thrust  and  Ruthyon,  senior,  said 
angrily :  "  I'm  sure  the  fact  that  he  may  have  been 
seen  in  Mr.  Huber's  company  doesn't  make  him  any 
worse  and  won't  account  for  this  outrage." 

"  Maybe  not,"  retorted  Hartnagel,  "  but  I've  heard 
that  the  leaders  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  in 
Indiana  have  advised  the  use  of  such  remedies  on  certain 
objectionable  people,  and  I  thought,  you  know,  that  the 
man  who  shot  Sim  might  be  following  their  advice  and 
concluded  to  try  his  hand  on  a  horse  first,  by  the  devil !  " 

A  strong  light  seemed  to  break  in  on  Frederick 
Ruthvon  just  then,  but  he  busied  himself  about  the 
horse  and  said  nothing. 

Sim  having  been  cared  for  as  well  as  was  possible 
under  the  circumstances,  Charles  Ruthvon  hastily  re- 
turned with  another  conveyance  to  Squire  Zweispringer's, 
for  Blanche.  It  was  quite  late  now  and  all  the  guests 
except  Doctor  Heifer  had  departed. 

"  Ho !  what  is  the  matter  with  you,  Charlie  ?  "  said 
the  latter.  "  Why,  your  face  and  clothes  look  as  if  you 
had  seen  and  fought  with  a  ghost," 

"I  can  trust  you  all,  and  will,"  he  replied  after  view- 
ing himself  in  a  mirror  a  moment  and  giving  a  light 


270  ENEMIES  nsr  the  rear; 

laugh.  He  then  related  the  manner  in  which  Tom  Hart- 
naffel  had  obtained  his  information  of  Pete  Prantman's 
plans  and  gave  a  detailed  account  of  the  evening's 
adventures.  They  all  agreed  that  Katrina  Galsch's  life 
would  be  worth  little  should  Zellon  discover  that  she 
betrayed  him,  and  solemnly  promised  to  keep  her 
secret. 

Charles  and  Blanche  drove  home  by  the  "  back  road  " 
and  the  lane.  The  ride  did  not  prove  what  the  former 
had  so  fondly  hoped  it  might.  Blanche  was  nervous  after 
what  she  had  heard  and  even  the  captain  held  the  reins 
more  firmly  than  usual.  He  informed  his  companion  of 
his  father's  eager  question  regarding  her  safety  and 
expressed  the  belief  that  it  augured  well  for  their 
hopes. 

''But  it  was  only  natural  for  him  to  ask  the  question, 
Charlie,"  said  Blanche.  "  He  would  have  done  it  about 
any  one  else  under  the  same  circumstances." 

"Not  in  the  same  manner  though,"  answered  Charles. 
"  His  eagerness  and  evident  anxiety  revealed  more 
than  the  words  he  spoke.  What  has  happened  will 
cause  him  to  think." 

"  Will  he  ever  know  who  did  this  cowardly  deed  ?  " 
she  asked. 

"  I  believe  he  has  already  made  a  shrewd  guess  from 
the  hints  Tom  Hartnagel  threw  out,"  he  replied. 

"  It  is  awful  to  have  neighbors  like  Pete  Prantman 
and  Jake  Zellon,"  said  Blanche  with  a  shudder. 

"  Yes,  and  they  believed  you  might  be  in  the  carriage 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  271 

and  yet  went  on  with  tlieir  plan.  There  is  a  day  of 
awful  reckoning  coming,"  said  Charles  with  sudden 
energy. 

"  Oh,  Charlie,  Charlie,  be  careful,"  exclaimed  Blanche 
with  woman's  solicitude. 

"I  shall  be,"  he  said;  "yet  what  does  it  matter? 
In  a  few  weeks  I  must  return  to  duty  at  the  front,  and 
if  I  fall  few  will  care  and  some  will  rejoice." 

"  Surely  none  would  be  so  heartless  as  to  rejoice  and 
many  would  mourn,"  she  said  impulsively.  "  Do  not 
mention  such  an  awful  thing.  Think  of  your  father 
and  mother  and  Catharine." 

"  And  not  of  you,  Blanche  ?  Would  you  be  among 
the  mourners  ?  "  he  asked  almost  bitterly. 

"  Oh,  Charlie,  it  is  unjust,  cruel,  to  ask  such  a  ques- 
tion,"  she  answered  reproachfully. 

"  And,  dear  Blanche,  I  sincerely  beg  your  pardon  ; 
but  I  feel  despondent  and  irritable  to-night.  I  am 
grieved  at  you  and  vexed  at  my  father." 

"  Perhaps  you  will  understand  us  both  better  after 
awhile,"  said  she  after  weeping  a  few  moments  silently. 
"  If  you  are  right,  Charlie,  in  reference  to  your  father's 
feelings,  they  will  one  day  show  themselves.  Be 
patient.     My  promise  to    you  shall  never    be  broken." 

"I  will  trust  you,  dear  Blanche,"  said  he  sadly. 

By  this  time  they  had  arrived  at  Mr.  Chetwynde's 
house,  and  having  assisted  Blanche  to  alight,  and  waited 
mitil  she  reached  the  door,  Charles   drove  slowly  home. 

The  next  night  the   attempt   on  Captain    Ruthvon's 


272  ENEMIES  nsr  the  eear. 

life  —  for  such  it  was  believed  to  have  been  — ■  was 
known  and  discussed  at  Baltzer's.  As  to  who  was  the 
assailant  various  opinions  were  held,  and  two  or  three 
names  were  mentioned.  Jake  Zellon  was  not  seen  for 
several  days,  but  a  well-known  physician  of  Womels- 
dorf  had  a  number  of  visits  from  him  at  night.  When 
next  seen  in  Haltfest  his  left  hand  was  bandaged  and  in 
a  sling.  He  explained  that  he  had  been  accidentally 
shot  while  engaged  in  pistol  practice  in  the  little  meadow 
back  of  Mehlhuber's  mill.  His  talk  about  Lincoln  hire- 
lings was  louder  and  his  threats  fiercer  than  ever. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

UNCLE     SAM     HEARS    THE     EXCUSES     OF     SOME     OF     HIS 
NEPHEWS. 

"  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused." 

According  to  notice  given  to  all  persons  at  the  time 
of  their  enrollment  the  preceding  month,  certain  days 
to  hear  and  determine  claims  for  exemption  from  mil- 
itary duty  under  the  present  registration  were  set  by 
the  Commissioner  of  Draft  for  the  district.  When  the 
handbills  were  posted  in  the  townships  of  CojDton, 
Rattleton  and  Knocksdehudel  hope  rose  high  in  many  a 
heart,  and  brains  that  had  never  been  bothered  with 
study  before  were  cudgeled  and  worried  that  perchance 
they  might  yield  a  plan  whereby  their  owner  could  avoid 
the  service  he  might  be  called  on  to  perform.  In  con- 
sequence some  fearfully  and  wonderfully  conceived 
devices  were  presented  and  urged  before  the  Commis- 
sioner. 

On  the  day  for  hearing  the  claims  from  the  three 
tow^nships  named  and  a  number  of  others,  the  early  train 
from  Haltfest  was  crowded  with  claimants  and  their 
friends,  the  latter  consisting  largely  of  wives,  sisters, 
mothers  and  sweethearts. 

The  Commissioner's  rooms  were  in  the  old  Bell  build- 
ing  on    Penn   Street,  south  side,  between   5th   and  6th 


274  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAK  ,* 

Streets,  Reading.  At  the  hour  appointed  for  the  hear- 
ings to  begin  they  were  filled  with  a  motley  crowd  of 
men  and  women  of  all  ages  and  conditions.  Some  of  the 
men  were  smokmg  and  not  a  few  had  evidently  braced 
themselves  for  the  occasion  with  the  cup  which  not  only 
exhilarates  but  likewise  intoxicates.  Others  were  silent 
and  looked  as  if  they  entertained  no  hope.  Such  as 
were  surely  disabled  were  happy  in  their  infirmities 
for  once,  but  they  who  had  only  the  device  of  the 
cudgeled  and  worried  brain  to  depend  upon,  felt 
much  like  the  passenger  who  holds  a  pass  of  very 
doubtful  character  when  he  sees  the  conductor  com- 
ing. Jake  Zellon  and  Andrew  Pfannkuchen  looked 
defiant.  One  man  was  whistling,  another  tried  to 
crack  a  joke,  a  third  danced  a  jig,  and  in  one  corner 
a  young  woman  was  talking  earnestly  to  a  young 
man,  evidently  her  lover,  and  smiling  to  encourage 
him  with  an  effort  in  which  cheerfulness  and  tears 
were   contending   for   the   mastery. 

Pete  Prantman  and  his  father  were  also  in  the  throng. 
Pete  frowned  at  Sharp  Billy  but  failed  utterly  to  make 
any  impression  on  that  ubiquitous  lad. 

"  Now  the  mill  begins  to  grind  and  some  of  you  will 
soon  be  fine,"  said  a  jolly  man.  This  cheerful  remark, 
made  in  a  loud  whisper,  was  evoked  by  the  entrance,  at 
a  side  door,  of  Major  Richard  Hautnehmer,  the  Com- 
missioner of  Draft,  accompanied  by  two  policemen, 
Elijah  Belsnickel  and  several  other  deputy  marshals, 
three  clerks  and  a  member  of  the  Reading  bar,  who 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIBCLE   SQUARED.  275 

volunteered  his  services  for  that  day  and  acted  as  coun- 
sel to  the  Commissioner  in  the  solution  of  such  ques- 
tions of  law  as  might  arise. 

The  Commissioner  was  not  at  all  popular.  He  smiled 
too  much,  as  if  the  proceedings  were  all  a  pleasant  play 
arranged  for  his  special  delectation,  and  more  than  one 
man  in  the  room  would  cheerfully  have  sent  a  bullet 
through  his  heart  if  it  could  have  been  done  safely. 

"  He  has  easy  smiling,  the  big-mouthed  pig,"  said 
Mrs.  Pfannkuchen. 

"  He  ought  to  be  sent  to  the  war,"  remarked  another. 

"  I  wonder  how  much  he  gets  a  day  for  his  dirty 
work  ?  "  asked  a  third. 

But  these  remarks  and  many  more  equally  hostile  and 
disparaging  were  made  in  low  tones  and  Major  Haut- 
nehmer,  unconscious  of  them  and  serenely  smiling,  took 
his  seat  at  the  desk  behind  the  low  railing  which  sepa- 
rated the  office  proper  from  the  rest  of  the  apartment. 
His  counsel  sat  down  close  by  and  the  policemen  lounged 
behind  them.  Having  looked  over  the  people  as  though 
he  had  a  very  agreeable  piece  of  news  to  communicate, 
the  Commissioner  suddenly  exchanged  his  smile  for  a 
frown  and  rising  up  spoke  as  follows  :  "In  accordance 
with  a  notice  given  by  handbills  and  in  the  newspapers 
I  sit  to  hear  claims  for  exemption  from  the  pending 
draft  by  persons  enrolled  in  the  townships  on  the  list  for 
to-day.  The  clerk  will  call  the  roll  in  alphabetical  order 
of  each  township,  and  when  the  name  of  a  person  claim- 
ing exemption  is  called  he  will  come  forward  promptly 


276  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR; 

and  state  his  claim  briefly  and  as  clearly  as  possible.  If 
lie  cannot  do  this  himself,  counsel  may  do  it  for  him. 
Cases  needing  surgical  examination  will  be  attended  to 
in  the  adjoining  room,  where  Doctor  Goettman  is  in 
attendance  for  the  purpose." 

During  this  speech  the  silence  was  as  the  grave. 

"  Now  it  begins  to  grind.  Look  once  a  little  out !  " 
said  the  jolly  man  in  a  whisper  when  the  Commisssoner 
ceased  speaking. 

"  The  clerk  will  begin  calling  the  rolls,  the  township 
of  Albany  coming  first,"  said  Hautnehmer  after  consult- 
ing with  his  counsel  a  few  moments.  Then  the  clerk, 
whose  short  red  hair  stood  up  like  the  quills  on  the  fret- 
ful porcupine,  began  to  drawl  out  the  names,  with  a  pause 
and  a  glance  of  expectation  at  the  crowd  after  each  name. 

Copton  township  was  reached  late  in  the  forenoon 
and  as  this  narrative  has  to  do  principally  with  that  dis- 
trict we  pass  over  the  proceedings  up  to  that  point. 

"  Fritz  Abele,  Hannes  Adelmann,  Fridel  Affhauser, 
Levi  Ahrenschweisz," — 

"  Here  ! "  came  a  clear  voice  in  response  to  this  eu- 
phonic cognomen,  and  a  man  of  great  obesity  came  wad- 
dling forward. 

"What  is  your  claim?"  asked  the  Commissioner 
brusquely. 

"  Too  fat.  Can't  run.  Can't  stoop  down  handy," 
answered  Ahrenschweisz  laconically.  There  was  a  laugh 
in  the  room  at  the  expense  of  the  claimant,  but  it  was 
a  good-natured  laugh  and  hurt  no  one. 


OK,   A   GOLDEK   CIKCLE   SQUARED.  277 

If  the  man  who  invented  sleep  is  entitled  to  bless- 
ings, no  less  the  woman  who  discovered  laughter.  In 
our  deepest  troubles  it  comes  and  is  better  than  a  medi- 
cine. 

"  How  much  do  you  weigh  ?  "  inquired  Hautnehmer 
snappishly. 

"  WeU,  in  summer  when  I  work  hard  I  weigh  two 
hundred  and  eighty  pounds,"  was  the  answer,  "  but  in 
whiter  when  I  don't  do  much  except  eat  sour-krout  and 
leberwurst,  I  go  up  to  three  hundred  and  forty  pounds. 
You  see  " — 

"  Go  through  that  door  into  the  surgeon's  room," 
interrupted  the  official.      "  Clerk,  call  the  next  name." 

In  less  than  five  minutes  the  fat  man  returned.  He 
looked  like  one  who  has  the  laugh  on  his  side  now  and 
is  prepared  to  enjoy  the  fun.  Doctor  Goettman  had 
assured  him  his  claim  would  be  allowed. 

"Say  once,  how  much  had  you  to  pay  him?"  said 
Pete  Prantman  pressing  up  to  Ahrenschweisz  and  whis- 
pering in  his  ear. 

"  Hold  your  mouth ;  you'll  catch  it  if  you  try  that 
there  game,"  answered  the  emancipated  citizen.  Pete 
was  disconcerted  but  could  not  believe  it  possible  that 
the  latter  had  got  clear  of  Lincoln's  clutches  without 
paying  well,  and  so  his  faith  in  the  potency  of  money 
in  such  cases  soon  revived. 

Presently  the  clerk  called,  "  Jacob  Brummler."  To 
this  name  the  jolly  man  answered. 

"  Your  claim,  Jacob  ?  " 


278  ENElVnES   IN   THE   EEAB,  ; 

"  It's  best,"  replied  Jacob,  "  to  have  two  legs  of  flesh 
when  a  man  goes  to  the  war.  IVe  but  one  of  that  kuid. 
The  other  is"  of  wood  and  wasn't  originally  furnished 
me  by  my  parents  but  by  a  fellow  down  in  Philadelphia 
after  the  cars  took  off  the  right  one  —  it  was  the  left 
one,  but  I  mean  the  one  I  had  first.  I  might  use  the 
wooden  one  in  a  battle  though  for  a  club." 

There  was  great  laughter  at  this  speech.  The  Com- 
missioner shouted  "  Silence  !  "  and  not  the  first  symp- 
tom of  a  smile  did  he  show  now  that  there  was  some- 
thing worth  smiling  at, — which  impressed  one  with  the 
idea  that  the  smiles  on  his  face  when  he  first  entered  the 
room  were  such  as  a  tiger  might  manifest  before  spring- 
ing on  his  victim. 

"  Who  enrolled  you  ?  "  he  asked  angrily. 

"  Lige  Belsnickel  there,  of  course ;  who  else  ? "  an- 
swered Brummler  cooly. 

"  Didn't  you  tell  him  you  have  only  one  leg  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not,  for  I've  got  two," 

The  people  laughed  again,  much  pleased  at  anythiug 
that  made  against  the  hated  of&cial. 

"  I  mean  one  natural  leg?  "  said  Hautnehmer,  red  in 
the  face  with  anger. 

"No  I  didn't." 

"  It  was  your  business  to." 

"  Oh,  indeed,"  said  the  jolly  claimant  with  an  inno- 
cent air  and  a  wmk  in  it's  first  stages  in  his  left  eye. 
"  By  henker,  I  didn't  know  that  I  was  to  do  so  when 
he  didn't  ask  me  at  all.     I  supposed  they  wanted  one- 


OK,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  279 

legged  men  to  hiu'iy  on  the  rest  under  McClellan  and 
it  gives  me  sorrow  that  " — 

"  Here !  Go  into  the  surgeon's  room  without  any- 
more words  or  I'll  put  you  mider  arrest,"  exclaimed 
the  Commissioner  trembling  with  passion.  The  case 
was  speedily  settled  and  Brummler  came  forth  from 
the  doctor's  presence  smiling  more  broadly  than 
ever. 

And  so  a  number  of  claims,  some  pathetic  and  some 
ludicrous,  were  passed  upon,  and  the  clerk  read  out  the 
name  of  "  Jared  Dreifusz."  In  response  an  old  man 
led  up  to  the  railing  a  listless  youth  of  about  twenty-one 
years.  The  latter  had  a  very  large  head,  a  long  body 
and  short  bandy-legs.  He  looked  aromid  him  with  the 
vacant  stare  so  surely  indicative  of  idiocy.  Most  of 
those  present  of  course  knew  him  and  wondered  what 
the  official  would  do  with  his  case. 

"Is  this  your  son?  "  asked  Hautnehmer. 

"  It  is,"  answered  the  old  man  in  a  voice  choked  with 
emotion  while  tears  coursed  down  his  cheeks.  "I'm 
sorry  I  had  to  bring  him  here,  for  I'm  afraid  he'll  take 
a  fit  or  become  violent,  as  excitement  always  brmgs  on 
one  or  the  other,  or  both." 

"  He  should  not  have  been  enrolled,"  said  the  Com- 
missioner. 

"So  I  told  the  marshal,"  replied  Jared's  father,  "but 
Jared  wasn't  home  when  he  came  to  our  house,  and  he 
said  he  must  enroll  hmi  and  I  had  nothing  more  to 
say. —  I  tell  you,  friend,  if  it  wasn't  for  this  j)Oor  boy, 


280  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

old  as  I  am  I'd  been  in  the  army  long  ago,  but  lie  must 
be  cared  for  like  a  little  child. " 

There  was  some  commotion  in  the  room  when  the 
father  spoke.  Instantly  the  dull  eyes  of  his  son  became 
lustrous  with  anger,  his  mouth  foamed  and  his  fists  were 
clenched.  Before  Mr.  Dreifusz  could  interpose  he 
made  a  furious  rush  at  the  crowd  and  grasped  Pete 
Prantman, —  who  happened  to  be  nearest, —  around  the 
body  with  a  giant's  strength. 

"  Donnerwetter  !  Take  him  away  !  Jake,  help  me  !  " 
shouted  Pete  struggling  with  the  madman.  Women 
shrieked,  men  swore  and  yelled  and  for  a  few  minutes 
pandemonium  reigned.  It  required  both  policemen  and 
several  other  strong  men  to  break  the  poor  fellow's  hold, 
and  when  at  last  he  was  overpowered  he  screamed  and 
fell  to  the  floor  in  a  terrible  fit. 

"  Carry  him  into  the  doctor's  room.  Call  the  next 
name,"  ordered  Ilautnehmer.  In  a  few  moments 
*'  James  Fetzer  "  was  heard  and  James  came  to  the  railing. 

"  Your  claim  is  what,  my  man  ?  "  inquired  the  officer 
very  blandly. 

"I've  lost  lots  of  teeth  and  I'm  awfully  troubled 
with  toothache.  Look  at  my  face  once,"  was  the 
response  in  most  lugubrious  tones.  His  jaws  were 
swollen  and  he  looked  every  whit  the  man  with  the 
jumping  toothache.  Of  course  he  failed  to  state  that  he 
had  purposely  brought  on  the  attack  for  the  occasion  by 
wading  in  spring  water  a  day  or  two  before,  the  efficacy 
of  which  procedure  he  knew  from  sad  experience. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  281 

"  That's  bad,"  said  Hautnehraer.  "  Walk  into  the 
next  room  and  see  Doctor  Goettman ;  maybe  he  can 
help  you." 

He  really  smiled  very  pleasantly  then,  did  this  officer. 
He  was  extremely  patriotic,  and  he  derived  much  pleas- 
ure from  the  fact  that  this  case  would  not  result  in 
exemption. 

It  should  be  recorded  here  that  before  the  sittings 
began  the  Commissioner,  his  counsel  and  Doctor  John 
Grebsgong  Goettman  had  gone  over  the  enrollment 
books  with  the  enrolling  officers,  and  in  this  way,  aside 
from  personal  acquaintance  with  many  of  the  appli- 
cants for  exemption,  had  gained  considerable  knowledge 
of  the  value  of  a  large  portion  of  the  claims  presented. 

"I'm  sorry,  James,"  said  Goettman  when  Fetzer 
appeared  before  him ;  ''  I  remember  last  time  I  was  out 
your  way  hunting  rabbits  I  gave  you  something  for 
your  toothache.  You've  lost  some  molars  sure,  but 
your  front  teeth  are  all  in  good  shape  and  you  can  bite 
off  a  cartridge  in  a  wmk, —  at  least  I  wouldn't  like  to 
venture  my  finger  between  them.  But,"  he  went  on  in 
a  confidential  way,  laying  his  hand  on  the  applicant's 
shoulder  and  smiling  so  broadly  that  all  his  gold-filled 
teeth  beamed  pleasantly  forth,  "  your  toothache  will  go 
away  long  before  you're  called  on  to  go  to  war.  I  can't 
exempt  you,  you  know, '  but  you  won't  be  drafted, 
James,  for  I  never  knew  it  yet  to  hit  a  man  who  was 
troubled  with  toothache  !  " 

With  these  consolatory  words  the  surgeon  dismissed 


282  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR  ; 

t 

him.  He  came  forth  with  a  woe-begone  countenance 
and  communicated  with  Pete  Prantman. 

"  Why  didn't  you  offer  him  the  ten  dollar  bill  pap 
gave  you  for  that  object  this  morning  ?  "  said  Pete  to  his 
foster-brother.  "  Then  you'd  been  all  right,  you  pump- 
kin-head." 

"  May  be  you'll  know  after  awhile,"  said  Fetzer, 
holding  his  aching  teeth  and  retiring  to  a  corner. 

When  "  Calvin  Kalbfleisch  "  was  called  out  a  man  of 
forty-three  years  came  forward  with  a  halting  gait. 

"  What  may  your  claim  be  ?  "  asked  the  presiding 
genius  of  the  mill.     He  looked  stern  now. 

"  I've  been  much  troubled  with  rheumatism  for  many 
years,  and  haven't  been  able  to  do  hardly  anything  in 
all  that  time,"  answered  Kalbfleisch  very  meekly. 

"  Go  into  the  next  room,"  was  the  sharp  command. 
This  man's  claim  was  entirely  just,  but  it  was  dis- 
allowed. Why  ?  Perhaps  because  he  looked  stout 
enough  aside  from  the  limp  in  his  walking,  and  perhaps 
not.  His  failure  caused  much  indignation  among  the 
waiting  people,  and  none  were  more  disgusted  than 
Andrew  Pfannkuchen's  mother  whose  near  neighbor 
Kalbfleisch  was. 

"  He  should  have  given  that  there  doctor  money," 
whispered  Pete  Prantman  to  her.  "  Wait  till  my  turn 
comes." 

Pete's  confidence  in  the  power  of  money  was  evi- 
dently fully  restored. 

And  so  the  mill  gromid  on  —  and  very  unevenly  it 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  283 

seemed  to  grind  too  —  until  the  name  of  Owen  Mach- 
gelt  was  called  by  him  of  the  red  head.  A  strongly 
built  middle-aged  man  with  very  long  hair,  and  wearing 
a  broad-brimmed  hat  and  a  drab  "  shad-belly "  coat, 
came  to  the  railing.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  spruce- 
looking  young  man  who  proved  to  be  Machgelt's  lawyer. 
The  latter  wore  eye-glasses  and  kid  gloves  and  Owen 
was  his  first  client. 

"  Your  claim  ?  "  said  Hautnehmer  sternly. 

"  My  client's  claim  for  exemption  from  the  pending 
draft,  sir,  that  is,  from  military  duty,  sir,  is  conscientious 
scruples  based,  sir,  on  religious  grounds,  sir,"  pompously 
interposed  the  sprightly  young  attorney.  Hautnehmer's 
lip  curled  scornfully. 

"  Mr.  Goldscheu,  will  you  please  question  this  man  ?  " 
said  he  to  his  coimsel. 

"  On  what  ground  do  you  base  your  claim,  Mach- 
gelt  ?  "  answered  Goldscheu. 

"  As  I  said  already,  sir,  he  bases  it,  sir,"  —  began  the 
claimant's  attorney. 

"  Mr.  Winkelmeyer,  I  am  not  at  present  questioning 
you,  but  Machgelt,"  interrupted  Goldscheu  suavely, 

"  And  I,  sir,  am  his  lawyer,  sir,"  retorted  Winkel- 
meyer in  a  way  that  promised  well  for  future  success 
in  his  profession.  "  The  Commissioner  clearly  stated 
this  morning,  sir,  that  where  a  claimant  is  not  able  "  — 

"  I  understand,"  again  interrupted  Goldscheu,  speak- 
ing now  with  biting  sarcasm,  "  but  after  you  have  had 
your  second  or  third  client  you  will  be  able  to  see  more 


284  EKEIVITES  EST   THE   REAR  ; 

distinctly  than  you  can  now,  Mr.  Winkelmeyer,  that 
this  is  a  case  in  which  Mr.  Machgelt  alone  can  answer 
properly." 

Having  crushed  Winkelmeyer,  Goldscheu  turned  to 
Machgelt  again. 

"  Mr.  Machgelt,"  said  he,  placing  the  tips  of  his  fin- 
gers and  thumbs  together,  "  do  you  base  your  claim  on 
religious  grounds  ?  " 

"I  do,"  answered  Owen  gravely.  "I  am  a  Men- 
nonite,  and  we  are  non-resistants." 

"  Would  you  permit  the  rebels  to  overrun  your  farm, 
drive  away  your  horses  and  cattle  and  burn  your  build- 
ings, without  resisting  them?" 

Promptly  came  the  answer :  —  "I  would  not  resist  by 
force." 

A  look  of  contempt  passed  over  the  face  of  the  attor- 
ney, but  Winkelmeyer  rubbed  his  hands  in  good  profes- 
sional style  and  smiled.  Owen  himself  was  calm  as  if 
in  his  meeting-house  listening  to  his  pastor.  The  throng 
was  hushed. 

"  Now  listen,"  said  Goldscheu  fixing  his  cold  grey  eye 
on  the  applicant ;  "  suppose  a  burglar  entered  your 
house  at  night,  would  you  permit  him  to  carry  off  your 
valuables  without  protest  if  you  were  awake  ?  " 

"  No.  I  would  reason  with  him  and  show  him  how 
wrong  his  act  was." 

"  Well,  but  I  mean  would  you  seek  to  use  force  in  a 
mild  way  such  as  for  instance  throwing  your  bootjack 
at  him?" 


OR,     A   GOLDEN"   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  285 

'^  I  would  not  resist  him  by  force  at  all.  The  case 
you  state  happened  in  my  house  last  summer." 

"  I  can't  deny  that  I  think,"  said  Goldscheu  some- 
wliat  nonplused,  while  Winkelmeyer  rubbed  his  hands 
harder  and  smiled  more  broadly.  "  But  now  I  put 
this  to  you :  suppose  a  man  broke  into  your  house  and 
proceeded  in  your  presence  to  murder  your  wife  and 
children — would  you  not  seek  to  defend  them  by  force  ?  " 

"  I  Avould  not,"  was  the  calm  reply. 

"  Then  you  are  either  a  liar  or  a  coward !  "  ex- 
claimed the  counsel  excitedly, 

"  I  am  responsible  to  God  alone,"  said  Machgelt 
firmly.  Nothing  remained  under  the  law  but  to  de- 
clare him  exempt.  Winkelmeyer  had  won  his  first 
client's  case,  and  with  a  triumphant  look  at  Goldscheu 
he  escorted  Owen  from  the  room. 

The  very  next  name  read  off  by  the  clerk  was  that  of 
Patrick  Mahoney.  No  sooner  was  it  pronounced  than 
briskly  forward  came  the  owner.  He  was  a  jolly, 
hearty-looking  Irishman  of  some  thirty  summers, 
possessed  a  ruddy  countenance,  a  shock  of  hair  em- 
phatically auburn,  and,  as  he  presently  proved,  a  witty 
brain  and  a  ready  tongue. 

"  Your  claim  ? "  asked  the  Commissioner,  somewhat 
impatiently. 

"  Bless  your  honor,"  said  Patrick,  bobbing  his  head, 
"  Oi'm  afther  havin'  the  very  same  disase  the  last 
jintleman  had  which  you  iximpted  him  so  moighty  hand- 
some, your  honor." 


286  ENElVnES    EST   THE   EEAH  ; 

"  But  the  last  gentleman  had  no  disease  at  all,"  an- 
swered the  genius  of  the  mill.  "  He  had  religious 
scruples." 

"  An'  that,  your  honor,  is  ixactly  my  throuble,"  was 
the  ready  response.  "  It's  conscientious  schruples  Oi'm 
afther  hayin.'  " 

With  a  smile  he  could  not  repress  Mr.  Goldscheu 
took  Patrick  in  hand. 

"  Mr.  Mahoney,  are  you  opposed  to  war  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Is  it  opposed  to  war  I  am,  your  honor?"  said  Pat- 
rick. "  Yis,  Oi'm  a  non-resister,  jist  loike  the  jintleman 
which  the  same  his  honor  there  iximpted  so  beautiful 
jist  before  me,  your  honor.  I  was  always  opposed  to 
the  war  which  the  same  William  the  bastard  of  Orange 
made  on  poor  king  James,  an'  Oi'm  riddy  to  knock  blazes 
out  of  any  sphalpeen  of  an  Orangeman  that  " 

"  Hold  on,  Patrick,"  interrupted  Goldscheu,  trying  in 
vain  to  look  sober.  "  Suppose  your  wife  were  to  hit  you 
over  the  head  with  a  broomstick  if  you  came  home 
drunk,  would  you  resist  her,  that  is,  would  you  strike 
back?" 

This  question  evidently  brought  up  in  Patrick's  mind 
familiar  domestic  scenes  and  reminded  him  of  his  part- 
ner's prowess,  for  he  looked  very  crestfallen  and  replied 
with  a  dubious  smile  :  "  Shure,  your  honor,  Oi'd  not  re- 
sist one  bit.     Oi'd  crape  under  the  bed  an'  be  quiet  as  a 


mouse 


!  " 


A  roar  of  laughter,  in  which  even  Hautnehmer  joined, 
followed  this  answer,  for  all  who  knew  Mrs.  Mahoney 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUAEED.  287 

were  aware  that  so  far  as  she  was  concerned  her  husband 
certainly  was  a  "  non-resister." 

"  Now,  Mr.  Mahoney,  I  ask  another  question,"  re- 
sumed Goldscheu,  leanmg  back  in  his  comfortable  arm- 
chair. "  Suppose  some  one  should  twit  you  with  being 
from  Ginnegal,  where,  it  has  been  said,  they  eat  potatoes 
skin  and  all,  and  would  then  tread  on  the  tail  of  your 
coat  besides,  I  presume  you  would  bear  it  all  very 
meekly?     Be  quick;  our  time  is  precious." 

"  Be  jabers,  show  me  the  dhirty  sphalpeen  as  would 
do  that,  an'  Oi'll  show  your  honor  what  Oi'd  do  before 
you  could  wink,"  replied  Patrick  with  much  animation. 

"  Would  you  strike  him?  "  persisted  the  attorney. 

"  He  would,  your  honor,  for  that's  jist  what  he  was 
afther  doin'  to  me  lasht  wake,"  said  a  loud  Hibernian 
voice  in  the  crowd,  and  the  face  of  its  owner  confirmed 
the  words,  black  and  blue  vying  with  each  other  there. 

"  Blast  the  dhirty  liar,"  yelled  Mr.  Mahoney,  and 
springing  on  his  offending  countryman  the  two  were 
pommeling  each  other  right  merrily  when  the  policemen 
seized  them  and  ejected  them  from  the  room.  Patrick 
Mahoney  was  not  exempted. 

Andrew  Pfannkuchen's  name  was  reached  in  due 
time.  That  young  giant  came  to  the  railing  followed  by 
his  mother.  She  was  all  solicitude  for  her  boy  and 
reminded  one  of  a  motherly  hen  whose  chicks  have 
grown  large  and  no  longer  heed  her  calls. 

"  What  is  this  boy's  claim  for  exemption  ?  "  asked  the 
Commissioner  sarcastically  of  Andrew's  mother, 


288  ENEINIIES   EST   THE    EEAE,  ; 

"  Ach  !  thou  beloved  ground  !  "  slie  began.  "  His  pap 
lias  been  dead  fifteen  years  and  all  his  brothers  but  six ; 
he  had  the  measles  when  a  baby,  then  the  water-pox, 
then  afterwards  scarlet  fever  and  it  left  him  with  fits 
for  a  long  time,  and  he's  still  troubled  a  great  deal  with 
bauchweh  and  he  can't  eat  ground-nuts  at  all  because 
they  give  him  the  bauchweh  bad  and  you  see  yourself 
he  doesn't  look  strong  and  has  blue  stripes  vuider  his 
eyes  and  besides  he  couldn't  carry  a  gun  and  he  hasn't 
never  been  on  the  cars  and  we  walked  to  the  city  this 
morning.     Oh,  dear  land  !  " 

There  was  much  merriment  during  this  speech  and 
her  big  son,  half  ashamed,  plucked  her  dress  several 
times  as  if  to  silence  her,  but-  in  vain.  She  went  on  with 
great  volubility,  enlarging  on  Andrew's  ailments  much 
as  she  had  done  when  Belsnickel  enrolled  him  a  month 
before. 

"Andrew,  you  and  your  mother  will  be  so  good  as  to 
go  into  Doctor  Goettman's  room  a  few  minutes,"  said 
Hautnehmer.  But  Andrew  refused  to  do  this  and  all 
his  mother's  tears  and  entreaties  could  not  move  him. 
Doctor  Goettman  was  a  mighty  hunter  and  had  visited 
Andi-ew's  neighborhood  a  number  of  times  in  quest  of 
game.  He  and  Andrew  had  become  quite  well  ac- 
quainted and  more  than  once  had  drank  "  Regewasser  " 
together.  Youno;  Pfannkuchen  had  shown  his  skill  fre- 
quently  in  running  down  foxes,  unearthing  woodchucks 
and  shooting  fowl,  and  well  knew  it  would  be  useless  to 
see  his  friend  as  a  claimant  for  exemption. 


OR,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  289 

"  Very  well,"  said  Hautnehmer  ;  "  if  you  won't  let  the 
surgeon  examine  you,  I  can't  admit  your  claim  at  all." 

"  There's  a  way  left  if  I'm  drafted."  said  Andrew  look- 
ing defiantly  at  the  Commissioner  from  his  height. 

"The  sittings  are  adjourned  for  one  hour,"  said  Haut- 
nehmer paying  no  further  attention  to  Andrew. 

"  You  ought  to  be  shot,  you  luder,"  shouted  Mrs. 
Pfannkuchen  at  the  officer.  "  Oh  !  if  I  could  only  have 
my  hand  in  your  hair  half  a  minute.     My !  " 

She  reached  wildly  across  the  railing  and  clutched  the 
air,  but  Hautnehmer  turned  his  back  upon  her  and 
walked  away,  Weeping  and  protesting  she  then  fol- 
lowed her  boy  as  he  stalked  out  of  the  room.  Some  of 
the  people  Avent  outside  to  seek  food,  but  most  of 
them,  with  little  appetite,  munched  pretzels  and 
cheese  where  they  had  already  stood  so  many  weary 
hours. 

One  of  the  first  names  called  when  the  session  was 
resumed  was  that  of  Peter  Prantman.  He  came  forward 
with  his  father.  He  looked  more  awkward  than  ever  in 
his  ill-fitting  garments,  and  his  countenance  had  that 
sickly,  bluish  hue  that  indicates  the  failure  of  courage 
and  confidence.  He  was  now  face  to  face  with  those 
in  authority  and  somehow  they  had  suddenly  assumed 
terrible  proportions  in  his  eyes. 

"What  is  your  son's  claim?"  said  Hautnehmer  to 
Hans  Prantman,  whom  he  knew  personally. 

"  He's  under  age." 

Hautnehmer  looked  scrutinously  at  Pete,  whose  teeth 


290  ENEMIES   IN  THE   BEAR  ; 

again  manifested  a  decided  tendency  to  chatter.  Then 
he  glanced  at  the  enrollment  book. 

"  How's  this  ? "  he  asked.  "  Your  son  is  down  as 
twenty-five  years  old." 

"  It's  a  mistake,"  said  Hans. 

"  How  was  it  ? "  said  the  Conamissioner  turning  to 
Belsnickel. 

"As  I  remember  it,  he  refused  to  give  his  age," 
replied  the  marshal,  "  and  I  used  the  discretion  allowed 
in  such  cases  and  put  him  down  at  twenty-five  as  about 
correct.  Besides,  he  inadvertently  admitted  he  was 
twenty  something." 

"It  isn't  so,  he's  only  nineteen,"  said  Prantman, 
senior,  irritably. 

"  Have  you  his  baptismal  certificate  or  your  family 
Bible  record  with  you  ?  "  asked  Goldscheu. 

"  No,  I  didn't  think  it  worth  while,  because  you  Lin- 
coln men  won't  believe  an  honest  man,"  answered  Hans 
gruffly. 

"  Are  you  willing  to  swear,  Prantman,  that  your  son 
here  present-  with  you  is  only  nineteen  years  old,  going 
on  twenty  ? "  was  Goldscheu's  pointed  query.  But 
Hans  knew  the  penalty  for  perjury  and  replied  that 
he  would  not  take  such  a  solemn  oath  before  nigger- 
worshipers. 

"  Then  he  stands  at  twenty-five  and  his  claim  is  dis- 
allowed," said  the  Commissioner. — "  CaU  the  next 
name." 

*'  But  he's  got  another  claim,"  interrupted  Hans. 


OE,   A  GOLDEN  ciecl:e  sqitaeed.  291 

"  Name  it  quickly,"  said  the  officer  impatiently. 

"  He  is  opposed  to  war,"  was  the  response.  "  He 
can't  conscientiously  " 

At  that  point  Pete  leaned  over  the  railing  as  if  to 
whisper  to  Hautnehmer,  and  when  the  latter  inclined  his 
head  to  listen  the  former  slyly  sought  to  put  a  bank-note 
into  the  Commissioner's  hand  and  at  the  same  time 
tried  hard  to  wink  with  his  left  eye.  The  officer  under- 
stood it  all  in  a  moment  and  promptly  improved  his 
opportunity. 

"  Hiltebeutel !  Fryberger !  "  he  shouted  to  the  two 
policemen.  "•  Out  with  this  fellow !  Give  him  his 
money" — holding  up  the  bill  prominently  —  "and  if 
he  comes  in  again,  arrest  him." 

Pete,  trembling  with  fear,  was  seized  by  the  officers 
and  most  unceremoniously  hustled  into  the  street,  and 
for  the  time  his  faith  in  the  power  of  money  was  com- 
pletely shattered.  His  father  followed  him,  and  as  they 
walked  down  Penn  street  toward  the  "  Plow  and 
Harrow  "  the  twam  agreed  that  the  lodge  must  act  at 
once  and  that  Huber  must  recommend  the  immediate 
use  of  stronger  remedies  than  any  he  had  yet  proposed. 

"^leanwhile  the  people  in  the  office  were  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  the  power  and  incorruptibility  of  Major 
Richard  Hautnehmer,  and  this  official  looked  very  seK- 
conscious  indeed,  and  leaned  back  in  his  chair  with  an 
air  which  plainly  said,  "  Behold  how  mighty  and  how 
virtuous  I  am  !  " 

It  has  been  reported   that  William    Rambeutel  pre- 


292  ENEMIES    nST   THE   REAR  ; 

ferred  a  claim  for  exemption  on  tlie  ground  of  being 
a  natural-born  coward,  but  the  author  has  been  unable 
to  verify  the  report  from  the  official  records  and  believes 
it  to  be  unfounded  and  malicious.  For  William  had 
but  recently  led  Yickey  Hauser  to  the  matrimonial  altar, 
and  no  married  man  would  enter  a  claim  on  such  a  plea. 

"•  Jacob  Starmkessel "  came  from  the  clerk's  lips. 
The  spectators  laughed.  The  trumpet  of  war  would 
never  waken  Jacob.  He  was  in  his  grave  two  weeks, 
they  said,  exempted  forever. 

Presently  the  name  of  Christopher  Stettler  greeted 
the  ears  of  the  people  and  he  who,  if  he  lived  until 
Second  Christmas,  would  be  seventy-six  years  old, 
came  forward  leaning  on  his  staff. 

"  Belsnickel,  how  is  this  ?  Did  you  enroll  this  old 
man?"  asked  the  Commissioner  sharply. 

"  Surely  not,"  replied  the  enrolling  officer  in  great  sur- 
prise. "  I  wrote  his  name,  I  admit,  but  some  young 
fellow  I  did  not  know  imposed  on  me  for  once  by  giving 
me  this  old  man's  name  for  his  own." 

"  That  young  scamp  will  go  where  he  can't  be  drafted 
even  if  he  tries,  if  I  can  find  out  who  he  is,"  said  Haut- 
nehmer  angrily.  "  Strike  off  Mr.  Stettler's  name, 
Lebguth." 

"  I  heard  I  was  on  the  roll  and  I  thought  I'd  better 
see  about  it,"  said  Stettler.  "  You  see  I'm  a  trifle  old  and 
I'm  afraid  I  couldn't  do  much  with  the  rebels  if  I  should 
get  among  them,"  and  greatly  relieved  he  hobbled  out  of 
the  room  and  down  stairs  into  the  street. 


OE,   A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  293 

The  last  name  called  with  which  this  narrative  has  any 
concern  was  that  of  Jacob  Zellon.  He  came  to  the  rail- 
mg  with  a  dark  frown  on  his  face  and  his  left  hand  in  a 
sling. 

"  My  claim  for  exemption  is  a  sore  hand  which  the 
doctor  says  will  never  be  of  any  use  again,"  said  he  with- 
out waiting  until  the  usual  question  was  put  to  him. 
Like  many  others,  he  had  an  interview  with  Doctor 
Goettman,  who  brought  down  a  great  deal  of  game  in 
those  days.  Having  examined  Zellon's  hand,  the  sur- 
geon pronounced  the  wound  to  be  comparatively  slight 
and  the  applicant's  claim  was  rejected.  With  a  deeper 
frown  and  a  muttered  curse  Zellon  greeted  Philip 
Huber.  This  individual  was  in  the  apartment  several 
times  during  the  day,  but  was  exceedingly  cautious  in 
his  movements  and  words,  Only  once  or  twice  did  he 
speak  to  any  one  and  then  only  a  word  of  encourage- 
ment to  a  few  persons  whom  he  knew  to  be  members  of 
his  enterprise  out  in  the  township  of  Copton. 

So  the  work  went  bravely  on  until  at  last  the  roll  of 
names  was  exhausted.  Then  the  sitting  was  declared 
closed  and  for  that  day  the  mill  ceased  to  grind. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A   EUPTTJEE   IN   THE   RUTHVON   HOME. 

About  this  time  there  was  sorrow  in  the  Chetwynde 
home.  The  battle  of  Antietam,  fought  September  16th 
and  17th,  1862,  brought  joy  to  the  North  and  reviyed 
its  courage,  but  to  many  a  home  it  meant  sorrow  and 
desolation.  The  news  of  the  rebel  defeat  was  speedily 
followed  by  lists  of  the  dead,  the  wounded,  the  missing. 
Anxiously  the  Chetwyndes  scanned  these  rolls  but  the 
name  of  Clinton  Chetwynde,  whose  regiment  partici- 
pated in  the  battle,  was  not  found  in  any  of  them. 
Presumably,  therefore,  he  must  have  escaped  unhurt. 
But  no  letter  came  from  him  —  not  even  to  Susie 
Zweispringer.  Daily  the  papers  were  searched  and  the 
revised  lists  carefully  examined,  but  for  ten  days  no  news 
came  concerning  the  absent  one.  Then  Susie  and  her 
father  were  seen  driving  rapidly  to  Chetwynde's,  for  the 
evening  papers  contained  another  list  of  missing  and  in 

it  they  had  read  "  Clinton  Chetwynde,  Co. , rd 

regiment  Pennsylvania  volunteers."  All  was  uncertain. 
Perhaps  he  was  a  prisoner,  perhaps  dead,  maybe 
wounded.  After  the  first  expressions  of  grief  a  consul- 
tation was  held  as  to  what  could  be  done.  Captain 
Ruthvon  was  hurriedly  sent  for.  He  sought  to  console 
the  family  and  Susie.     Clinton  was  probably  a  prisoner, 


OR,    A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  295 

and  as  the  rebels  were  on  the  retreat  and  constantly- 
harassed  they  would  not  be  able  to  guard  their  prisoners 
very  closely  and  he  would  have  many  chances  of  escape 
to  the  Union  forces.  But  it  availed  little.  The  element 
of  uncertainty  was  too  great  to  permit  a  very  comforting 
hope  to  spring  up,  and  even  Charles  could  not  entirely 
conceal  his  anxiety. 

"  My  duty  is  not  done  until  I  have  made  an  effort  to 
find  my  boy,"  said  Mr.  Chetwynde.  "  He  may  be  lying 
wounded  in  some  negro  hut  and  need  my  help." 

"  I  will  go  with  you,"  cried  Susie  impulsively. 

"  Oh,  Susie  that  will  never  do,"  said  Charles.  "  You 
are  a  brave  girl  but  you  would  only  hinder  Mri  Chet- 
wynde in  his  efforts.  Perhaps  we  can  do  better. — Mr. 
Chetwynde,  I  will  go  with  you." 

Mr.  Chetwynde  was  deeply  touched  by  the  captain's 
offer.  He  accepted  it,  and  they  agreed  to  start  on  their 
journey  with  the  first  train  west  next  morning. 

Susie  Zweispringer  overwhelmed  the  captain  with  her 
thanks. 

"  Bring  him  back  alive,  won't  you  ?  "  she  said  when 
she  had  suitable  opportunity.  "  And  that  matter  be- 
tween you  and  Blanche  "  —  with  the  same  decisive  tap 
of  the  foot  we  heard  before  — "  will  come  right.  It 
must  I     So  there  now  !  " 

Charles  looked  his  thanks  but  made  no  audible 
reply. 

*'  I  love  Clinton  as  a  brother,"  he  said  to  Blanche 
when  he  bade  her  good-bye,  "  but  the  fact  that  he  is 


296  ENEISnES    IN    THE    REAR  ; 

Blanche  Chetwynde's  brother  enhances  many  fold  the 
pleasure  I  feel  in  rendering  this  service." 

"  Good-bye,  Charlie,"  she  said  with  a  warm  j^ressure 
of  the  hand.      "  God  bless  you  and  keep  us  both  !  " 

When  Charles  reached  home  and  announced  his  inten- 
tion of  going  with  Jabez  Chetwynde  next  day  in  search 
of  Clinton,  Grandmother  Ruthvon,  who  had  not  yet 
retired,  at  once  began. 

"  I  knew  there  would  be  bad  news,  Charlie,  my  boy," 
she  said.  "  I  went  out  into  the  orchard  this  morning  to 
see  the  apples  and  a  big  black  crow  flew  right  over  my 
head,  and  in  war  times  that's  a  sure  sign  as  I  often 
heard  my  grandmother  say  in  the  1812  war." 

"  Well,  grandmother,"  said  Charles  pleasantly  when 
she  finished  speaking,  "  let  us  hope  there  won't  be  bad 
news  this  time." 

Now  Mr.  Ruthvon  had  of  course  attended  the  lodge 
meeting  at  Mike  Hahn's  the  previous  Saturday  night. 
Knight  Huber  had  informed  the  Circle  that  about  two 
weeks  ago  Charles  Ruthvon  had  been  seen  in  close  com- 
munication with  Colonel  Erb  and  Major  Hautnehmer  at 
Reading,  as  was  believed.  In  consequence  the  speaker 
had  reason  to  think  that  the  movements  of  the  lovers  of 
liberty  and  the  utterances  of  that  noble  friend  of  the 
people,  the  Meading  Eagle^  were  being  watched  by 
the  Lincoln  spies. 

Frederick  Ruthvon  was  deeply  mortified,  the  more 
that  the  Prantmans  and  others  made  sneering  remarks. 
On  Sunday  he  did  not  speak  to  Charles  at  all  and  the 


OR,    A   GOLDEN"   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  297 

reply  of  the  latter  to  liis  grandmother  brought  matters 
to  an  issue. 

"  Bad  news,  Charlie,  bad  news  ?  "  said  he  in  a  manner 
that  betokened  deep  feeling.  "  What  else  can  you 
expect  ?     How  could  things  be  worse  than  they  are  ?  " 

Mrs.  Ruthvon  noticed  her  husband's  emotion  and 
looked  anxiously  at  Charles.  The  latter  understood  her 
and  made  no  reply  to  his  father's  remark.  There  was . 
a  pause  during  which  Mr.  Ruthvon  very  deliberately 
filled  and  lighted  his  pipe. 

"  The  draft  has  been  put  off  once  more  for  three 
weeks,"  he  resumed.  "  Why  ?  Why,  that  these  big 
fellows  at  the  head  of  it  —  Hautnehmer,  Doctor  Goett- 
man  and  hundreds  of  such  ink-lickers,  may  have  time  to 
suck  all  the  money  out  of  the  people." 

"  They  didn't  take  much  from  Pete  Prantman 
though,"  remarked  Charles  in  spite  of  a  warning  look 
from  his  mother.  Catharine  could  not  repress  a  laugh, 
for  in  Mr.  Chetwynde's  copy  of  the  Reading  Journal 
she  had  read  an  account  of  Pete's  ludicrous  failure  as  a 
bribe-giver,  but  her  father  frowned  angrily. 

"  The  ox  didn't  know  how  to  go  about  it,"  said  he. 
"Hautnehmer  wasn't  fool  enough  to  take  the  money  where 
he  might  be  seen  doing  it. —  No,  I  tell  you  they're  just 
putting  off  the  draft  to  get  all  they  can  out  of  the 
people." 

"And  things  are  getting  worse  all  the  time,"  he  went 
on,  puffing  his  pipe  vigorously.  "  Now  Abe  Lincoln  has 
put  out  an   infamous   proclamation   by   which   all   the 


298  ENEMIES    IN    THE   REAR  ; 

niggers  in  tlie  Soutli  are  to  be  free  at  New  Year.  This 
will  make  the  Southern  people  desperate  and  they'll 
never  give  iTp.  And  suppose  this  robbery  can  be  carried 
out,  then  all  these  swarms  of  vicious  niggers  will  come 
and  spread  all  over  the  North  like  the  frogs  of  Egypt. 
It'll  be  awful." 

Here  he  paused  a  moment.  Charles  sat  with  down- 
cast eyes  and  by  this  time  grandmother  was  asleep  in 
her  chair. 

"  Our  neighbors  are  in  trouble,"  he  resumed.  "  Per- 
haps their  son  is  dead.  But  the  Yankee  is  only  reaping 
what  he  sowed.  Yet,  alas !  I'm  reaping  a  more  bitter 
harvest  than  he  though  I  never  sowed  such  seed.  He 
was  brought  up  that  way  and  his  children  all  agree  with 
him  in  his  notions.  The  whole  family  felt  honored 
when  a  son  went  away  to  risk  his  life  to  free  niggers 
and  if  he  is  dead  or  wounded,  they'll  boast  of  it  as  long 
as  they  live.  But  to  think  that  my  son  should  take  up 
with  the  notions  of  a  Yankee  stranger  against  all  I  ever 
taught  him,  and  assist  in  an  unholy  war  to  take  men's 
lawful  property  from  them,  is  enough  to  turn  my  head 
entirely  grey  in  a  moment  and  to  bring  it  in  sorrow  to 
the  grave." 

"  And  not  only  so,"  he  continued  more  warmly,  while 
Catharine  wept  and  his  wife  trembled  for  the  event, 
"but  as  I  have  heard  on  good  authority,  he  is  willing  to 
assist  in  forcing  others  to  engage  in  this  war  on  the 
South  and  to  watch  peaceful  citizens  who  meet  together 
to  protect  their  rights.     And  here  " —  putting  aside  his 


OR,    A    GOLDElSr   CIRCLE    SPUARED.  299 

pipe  and  speaking  with  unwonted  animation  —  "  are  tlie 
so-called  Home  Guards  —  blackguards,  that's  what  they 
are !  —  coming  home  in  a  day  or  two  to  watch  people 
who  are  far  more  honest  than  themselves  —  Tom  Hart- 
nagel,  whom  I  as  good  as  forbid  the  premises,  Carl 
Schlapphammel,  who  is  another  turncoat,  and  fellows  of 
that  color  —  with  these  our  son  goes,  Maria.  I  tell  you 
it's  too  much. —  Charlie  "  —  he  had  risen  up  and  now 
advanced  to  his  son's  chair,  his  face  white  with  anger 
and  his  hand  trembling, —  "  you  must  choose  here  and 
now  between  your  family  and  ancestors,  and  Yankee 
Chetwjmde  and  these  cursed    abolition  thieves." 

His  passion  seemed  all  the  more  terrible  to  his  family 
because  usually  he  was  calm  and  collected  even  when 
angry. 

"  Oh,  Fred,  don't,  don't !  "  cried  ]\Irs.  Ruthvon. 

"Wait  a  moment,  mother;  sit  down,"  said  Charles 
rising  and  speaking  calmly. —  '^  Father,  what  are  the 
consequences  of  my  choice  ?  " 

"  If  you  choose  us,  you  are  our  son  as  before.  If  you 
choose  our  enemies,  I'll  disown  you  and  forbid  you  the 
house,"  was  his  father's  reply. 

''  Oh,  Fred,  Fred,  think  what  you're  doing,"  said  Mrs. 
Ruthvon,  going  to  her  husband  and  laying  her  hand  on 
his  arm. 

"  He's  brought  it  all  on  himself,"  said  Mr.  Ruthvon 
without  a  sign  of  wavering  in  his  resolution. 

"lam  to  choose,"  said  Charles,  "between  your  prej- 
udices " 


300  E]SrEMIES   IN   THE  EEAE  ; 

"  By  tliat  you  mean  being  a  Democrat  and  Pennsyl- 
vania Dutcli  of  course,"  interrupted  Ruthvon,  senior, 
sarcastically. 

— "  And  Pete  Prantman  and  Jake  Zellon  and  Philip 
Huber  on  tlie  one  hand "  —  Charles  was  proceeding 
when  his  father  again  interrupted  him. 

"  Pete  Prantman  and  all  the  rest  may  go  into  the 
bushes,"  said  he.      "You  knowAvhat  I  mean,  just." 

"Very  well,"  said  Charles  without  a  trace  of  anger, 
"but  the  choice  is  not  as  you  state  it.  It  is  between 
my  country  and  its  friends  on  the  one  hand,  and  its  bit- 
ter enemies  on  the  other,  and  I  choose  the  former.  I 
cannot  do  otherwise." 

"  Then  go  !  You  are  no  longer  my  son,"  said  Mr. 
Ruthvon  hoarsely  but  resolutely.  "  To-morrow  morning 
I  make  a  new  will  in  which  Catharine  becomes  our  only 
child  and  heir." 

"  O  father  !  "  exclaimed  Catharine  throwing  herself  on 
her  father's  neck,  "  don't  drive  Charlie  away.  What 
shall  we  do  without  him  ?  He'll  do  what  you  want  him 
to,  won't  you,  Charlie  ? "  and  the  poor  child  di-opped 
into  her  chair  Aveeping  passionately. 

"  Fred,  you're  wrong  in  your  decision  even  if  Charles 
is  wrong  in  his  ideas,"  said  Maria  RuthA^on  Avith  a  toler- 
able degree  of  composure.  "  You'll  see  it  some  day, 
though  I  knoAV  your  mind  is  made  up  now.  Go, 
Charlie,  and  remember  that  though  your  father  disoAvns 
you,  your  mother  ncA'er  Avill.  She  Avill  always  have 
three  chilch-en — Catharine,  you,  and  Freddie  in  lieaA'en. 


OR,    A    GOLDEISr    CIRCLE   SQUARED.  801 

Our  dear  Lord  God  will  be  with  you  while  away  on  your 
dangerous  errand.  When  you  come  back  to  Haltfest 
send  for  me." 

The  sad  parting  need  not  be  described.  Charles  of- 
fered his  hand  to  his  father,  but  the  latter  refused  it, 
saying:      "We  are  strangers." 

And  so  the  son  passed  out  into  the  night  and  the  door 
of  his  father's  house  closed  behind  him.  When  next 
^he  crossed  the  threshold  —  but  let  us  wait  and  see. 

Very  sad  indeed  but  without  a  single  bitter  thought 
toward  his  father,  our  hero  made  his  way  to  "  The 
People's  Hotel."  His  first  impulse  had  been  to  go  back 
to  Chetwynde's  but  a  moment's  reflection  showed  him 
that  under  the  circumstances  this  would  be  unwise,  and 
he  decided  to  seek  the  hospitality  of  Baltzer's  inn  for 
the  night.  Hen  Weinmiller  was  just  closing  up  and 
Baltzer  was  enjoying  a  final  glass  of  beer  and  a  pretzel. 

"  I  again  accept  your  invitation  to  make  myseK  at 
home  here,  Baltzer,"  said  Captain  Ruthvon. 

"  It's  right  so  I  think,"  responded  the  innkeeper,  stop- 
ping his  drinking  and  munching  long  enough  to  pro- 
nounce the  words. 

After  directing  Weinmiller  to  call  him  for  the  early 
train  west,  Charles  retired  to  rest.  For  a  long  time  he 
could  not  sleep.  He  was  racked  with  conflicting 
emotions.  He  carefully  reviewed  his  whole  course 
since  the  spring  of  1860  to  make  sure  that  he  was  right, 
and  that  he  could  not  conscientiously  have  done  other- 
wise than  he  did  in  reference  to  his    father's  demand. 


302  ENElVnES    IN   THE   EEAE. 

And  so  his  sorrow  was  tempered  by  tlie  consciousness  of 
right-doing. 

Moreover,  hope  —  hope,  that  saves  mortals  from  being 
crushed  by  the  burdens  which  fall  upon  them  —  whis- 
pered to  him  of  happier  days  to  come. 

He  fell  asleep  toward  mornmg  and  his  dreams  were 
not  —  strange  to  say  !  —  of  Blanche  Chetwynde  this 
time,  but  of  his  mother  and  Catharine.  Happy  the 
young  man  in  whose  heart  mother  and  sister  are  en- 
shrined. Over  him  the  guardian  angel  need  not  soon 
weep. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

TOM   HAETNAGEL    SAVES    A   LITE. 

There  was  one  liappy  heart  left  under  the  Ruthvon 
roof  on  the  morning  after  Charles'  departure.  It  was 
that  of  Sallie  Vonneida.  She  had  heard  on  the  previous 
day  that  the  Emergency  Men  were  dismissed  and  knew 
that  her  lover  might  be  expected  home  at  any  time. 
Jabez  Chetwynde  drove  by  early  with  Frank  and  called 
for  Charles,  but  Mrs.  Ruthvon  informed  him  that  he 
had  gone  on  to  the  village.  Mr.  Ruthvon  compared  his 
watch  with  the  old  Dutch  clock  according  to  his  daily 
custom  and  then  went  about  his  usual  chores.  He 
spoke  kindly  to  his  wife  and  daughter,  but  breakfast 
was  eaten  in  almost  absolute  silence.  Sallie  wondered 
what  had  gone  amiss,  but  even  she  dared  not  make  any 
inquiry  just  then  as  to  Charles'  absence.  After  the 
meal  was  ended  Mr.  Ruthvon  remarked  to  his  wife  that 
he  was  going  to  Haltfest  and  would  not  be  back  for 
several  hours.  She  knew  his  errand  well  and  also  that 
remonstrance  would  at  present  be  useless. 

He  made  his  way  to  the  office  of  Squire  Zweispringer 
and  found  that  gentleman  quietly  enjoying  his  morning 
cigar  and  reading  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer. 

'■-  Good  morning,  Fred,  take  room  ;  how  does  it  go  ?  " 
was  the  squire's  friendly  greeting. 


304  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR  ; 

"  It  must  be  good,"  replied  Ruthvon  seating  himself. 

"  I  see  in  the  paper  that  a  good  many  of  the  Home 
Guards  have  got  back  from  Maryland,"  remarked  the 
squire  unwittingly. 

"  Yes,  and  I  think  all  the  loafers  that  went  from 
around  here  will  be  back  soon  too,  and  then  honest  men 
will  have  to  hold  their  mouths  and  watch  their  hen- 
roosts," said  Ruthvon  angrily. 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that  I  think,"  answered  the  squire 
laughing.  •'  Tom  Hartnagel,  for  instance,  wouldn't  rob 
a  hen-roost." 

"  Tom  Hartnagel !  "  exploded  the  other.  "  That  big 
mule  told  me  I  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  myself,  but  I 
ain't,  and  if  he  comes  on  my  premises  again,  he'll 
hear  something.  —  Say,  Zweispringer,  I  came  to  have 
you" 

"Is  it  true  that  Charlie  has  gone  away?  "  interrupted 
the  squire.  "  Weinmiller  said  he  and  Yankee  Chet- 
wynde4ook  the  early  train  west  this  morning." 

"  He  and  Chetwynde  went  off  to  look  for  Clint  I 
believe,"  replied  Ruthvon  curtly.  —  "  Say,  I  came  to 
have  you  write  a  new  will  for  me." 

"A  new  what?"  asked  Zweispringer  in  great  sur- 
prise. 

"  A  new  will.  Charles  is  no  longer  a  son  of  mine. 
I  disown  and  disinherit  him,"  answered  Ruthvon,  and 
then  briefly  related  what  had  occurred. 

"  I  have  to  say  the  same  thing  to  you  that  Hartnagel 
did,"  said  the  squire  after  Ruthvon  finished  his  accomit. 


OE,    A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  305 

"  I  whistle  on  your  opinion,','  responded  Ruthvon 
stubbornly.      '^  Will  you  write  the  will  or  won't  you  ?  " 

"  Now,  look  once  here,  "  persisted  Zweispringer  speak- 
ing earnestly  but  kindly.  "  I'm  not  a  Lincoln  wor- 
shiper and  I  believe  he's  overdone  the  thing  with  his 
Emancipation  Proclamation  business,  but  I  do  say  that 
you're  driving  matters  too  far  with  your  boy." 

"  My  father's  ways  and  notions  were  good  enough  for 
him  and  they're  good  enough  for  me.  They're  not 
good  enough  for  Charles  and  so  he  must  go  his  own  road," 
said  Ruthvon  sternly. 

"  Do  you  reap  your  grain  with  a  sickle  as  your  grand- 
father did  ? "  asked  the  squire  with  great  animation. 
"  Do  you  wear  homespun  as  " 

"  That  is  quite  another  thing,"  interrupted  Ruthvon, 
senior,  irritably.  "  Will  you  write  the  will  or  won't 
you  ?  If  not,  I  can  soon  find  somebody  that  will.  Dei- 
henker  !  " 

"If  it  must  be  done,  I  might  as  well  do  it  I  think," 
said  Zweispringer  getting  out  his  writing  materials. 
"  Go  on." 

And  the  will  was  written  and  properly  executed. 
Charles  was  cut  off  with  a  dollar  and,  after  Mrs.  Ruth- 
von's  death,  Catharine  was  to  be  sole  heir  to  aU  the  prop- 
erty. It  was  a  bitter  thought  to  Frederick  Ruthvon  that 
after  so  many  generations  the  old  homestead  would  pass 
out  of  the  Ruthvon  name,  and  that  too  by  his  own  volun- 
tary act.  But  he  had  made  up  his  mind  and  nothing 
shovild  change  it. 


306  ENEMIES   IN    THE   REAB  ; 

Squire  Zweispringer  seemed  to  echo  his  thought 
when,  the  witnesses  to  the  will  havmg  gone  away,  he 
remarked  as  he  handed  the  instrument  to  his  neighbor : 
"Ihope,  Fred,  your  time  and  expense  are  lost  this  trip." 

"Why  so  then?"  inquired  Ruth  von  placing  the  will 
in  his  inside  coat  pocket, 

"  I  hope  to  hear  before  long  that  this  will  is  de- 
stroyed," answered  the  squire  in  a  serious  tone.  Mr. 
Ruthvon  winced  under  his  friend's  words  and  look. 

"  He's  made  his  bed  and  must  lie  on  it,"  he  re- 
joined gruffly.  "  He  loves  strangers  better  than  his 
fathers  and  their  good  old  Pennsylvania  Dutch  notions 
and  ways,  and  he  must  take  the  consequences  of  his 
choice." 

"  Blanche  Chetwynde  is  a  pretty  nice  stranger  to 
love,"  said  the  squire  smiling  and  giving  Ruthvon  a 
quaint  look. 

"  Of  course,  of  course,  and  I  suppose  your  daughter 
thinks  the  same  of  the  Yankee's  oldest  son." 

"  And  her  father,  being  a  man  of  good  sense,  doesn't 
object." 

"  Squire,  you're  getting  too  black  and  your  neighbors 
notice  it  too.  I  doubt  whether  you  can  be  re-elected  on 
the  third  Friday  of  next  March." 

"  Yes,  neighbors  like  the  Prantmans  and  Hahn  have 
thrown  out  hmts  like  that,''  replied  the  squire  hotly. 
"  It's  all  right.  I  was  born  in  Berks  Comity  and  am  not 
responsible  for  the  fact,  but  I  thank  God  I'm  not  a 
Bourbon.     I  can  forget  some  things  and  also  learn  some 


'  OB,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE  SQUAKED.  307 

new  ones,  and  the  Prantmans  and  all  their  friends  may- 
make  the  most  of  that.  I  can  live  without  the  oflBce 
and  somebody  else  may  write  your  wills,  so  help  me 
Schinnerhannes  !  "  And  for  one  so  prudent  and  peaceful 
the  squire  was  rather  flustered. 

So  they  parted,  the  squire  to  tell  Susie,  who  remarked 
that  old  Ruthvon  ought  to  be  shut  up  a  month  on  dry 
bread  and  water  to  bring  him  to  his  senses,  and  Fred- 
erick Ruthvon  to  return  home  and  inform  his  wife  of 
what  he  had  done.  Mrs.  Ruthvon  listened  attentively 
and  calmly  to  him. 

"  Fred,  do  you  think  it  was  quite  right  to  do  this 
without  consulting  me  at  all  ?  "  she  asked  in  accents  of 
tender  affection  when  her  husband  had  ended.  "  Didn't 
I  bring  you  some  property  when  you  married  me  and 
haven't  I  through  all  the  years  since  worked  with  you 
faithfully  on  the  field  and  in  the  house  to  keep  what  we 
had  and  to  increase  it  ?  " 

He  looked  at  her  in  surprise,  for  among  these  people 
these  things  are  seldom  considered. 

"  But  if  you  outlive  me,  everything  except  one  dollar 
is  your's  during  your  lifetime,"  he  answered  after  paus- 
ing a  moment. 

"  True,  but  don't  you  think  it  would  have  been  right 
for  me  at  least  to  have  had  an  opportunity  of  expressing 
my  wishes  ?  " 

He  looked  down  but  made  no  reply. 

"  You've  done  wrong,  Fred,  and  you'll  see  it  some  day," 
she  continued.     "  0  Fred  !  our  dear  boy,  our  Charlie" — • 


308  ENEMIES  nsr   the  reah  ; 

"  He's  mine  no  longer,"  lie  said  sternly  yet  with  some- 
thing husky  in  his  voice. 

"  But  he  will  always  be  mine,"  she  replied  weeping. 

After  dinner,  for  which,  save  in  Sallie  Vonneida's 
case,  there  was  little  appetite,  Mr.  Ruthvon  prepared  to 
do  a  bit  of  repairing  on  the  barn  roof.  Benneville 
Rothermel,  the  hired  man,  was  engaged  in  cutting  corn. 
Mrs.  Ruthvon  thought  her  husband  should  not  try  to  do 
the  repairing  alone  as  some  rain  had  fallen  during  the 
night  and  the  roof  was  wet  and  slippery.  But  the  corn- 
cutting  needed  to  be  finished  at  once,  and  he  said  he 
could  do  this  trifle  of  work  alone  just  as  well,  and  let 
Rothermel  go  on  Avith  the  corn.  He  set  up  a  ladder 
but  it  barely  reached  the  eaves  of  the  roof,  twenty-five 
or  more  feet  from  the  ground.  Standing  on  one  of  the 
topmost  rounds,  he  nailed  a  strip  of  wood  on  the  shingles 
parallel  with  the  eaves,  to  give  him  a  foothold ;  then  he 
mounted  to  the  roof  and  nailed  other  strips  of  wood  at 
intervals  higher  up,  until  he  reached  the  places  that 
needed  patching.  Next  he  descended  and  brought  up  a 
small  bunch  of  shingles  and  in  a  short  time  the  task  was 
completed  to  his  satisfaction.  But  while  unfixing  the 
uppermost  strip  the  one  against  which  his  feet  were 
then  propped  loosened  and  he  began  to  slide  down  the 
roof.  One  by  one  the  strips  gave  way  when  he  struck 
them.  The  last  one  fortunately  held.  He  grasped  it 
and  sought  to  place  his  feet  on  the  ladder,  but  in  his 
excitement  he  gave  it  a  slight  push.     It  slipped  over 


OE,   A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  309 

sideways  and  fell  to  the  ground  leaving  the  unfortunate 
man  hanging  by  his  hands  and  dangling  in  the  air  at  a 
dangerous  height. 

The  spot  over  which  Mr.  Ruth  von  hung  was  just  by 
the  wall  of  the  barn  roadway  or  "  in-drive,"  as  it  is  called 
in  Pennsylvania  Dutch,  and  if  he  fell  he  must  strike  this 
wall  and  either  be  killed  or  crippled  for  life.  To  call 
very  loud  hanging  in  such  a  position  was  impossible.  He 
exerted  all  his  power  to  raise  himself  to  the  roof  but 
failed.  His  strength  was  almost  gone,  the  perspiration 
oozed  from  every  pore  and  the  pain  in  the  muscles  of  his 
hands  and  arms  was  excruciating.  A  few  moments  more 
and  he  would  be  dashed  on  the  stones  and  hard  ground 
below.  Once  more  he  called,  this  time  feebly.  He  was 
answered,  and  a  man  ran  up  fi'om  the  road  at  the  top  of 
his  speed. 

"  Hold  on  a  moment  more  and  I'll  get  you  down  all 
right,"  said  a  hearty  voice,  and  Tom  Hartnagel  seized 
the  fallen  ladder  and,  heavy  and  unwieldy  as  it  was,  in 
less  than  a  minute  had  set  it  up  directly  under  Mr. 
Ruth  von  and  was  running  up  its  rungs. 

"  Hurry  up,  I  can't  hold  any  longer,"  came  from  Mr. 
Ruthvon  in  feeble  tones.  Tom  ascended  almost  to  the 
top  of  the  ladder,  and  then  taking  a  firm  hold  with  his 
left  hand,  passed  his  right  arm  around  Mr.  Ruthvon 's 
body. 

"  Steady  now,"  said  Tom ;  "if  the  ladder  holds,  we're 
all  right.  Put  your  foot  on  this  round.  So  !  Now  let 
go." 


310  ENEMIES    IlSr   THE    REAR  ; 

"  I  can't  do  anything  at  all  with  my  hands  or  arms ; 
their  strength  is  all  gone,"  cried  Ruth  von. 

"  Keep  your  feet  steady  and  go  slow  and  we'll  be  all 
right,"  answered  the  brave,  strong  fellow. 

"Hold  me  hard,"  cried  Ruthvon,  "my  legs  are  par- 
alyzed and  I  shall  fall." 

"  Steady,  until  I  get  a  firmer  hold.  So  !  Now  we're 
all  right,"  said  Hartnagel.  They  descended  safely  until 
within  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground  when  suddenly  a 
rundle  snapped  under  their  united  weight  and  they  fell 
to  the  ground  at  the  foot  of  the  wall.  Tom  struck  first, 
and  Frederick  Ruthvon  fell  on  him.  In  consequence  the 
latter  was  not  injured  at  all,  save  a  slight  scratch  on  his 
hand,  but  Tom  struck  his  head  against  the  wall  and  lay 
motionless.  For  a  little  while  Mr.  Ruthvon  could  only 
call.      Otherwise  he  seemed  helpless. 

"  Dear  Lord  God !  "  he  exclaimed  when  at  last  he 
was  able  to  turn  his  head  and  for  the  first  time  discov- 
ered who  his  rescuer  was,  "it's  Tom  Hartnagel,  and 
the  man  who  saved  my  life  is  dead.  Halloo !  Will  no 
one  hear  me  ?  " 

It  happened  that  Sharp  Billy  was  returning  from  the 
village.     He  heard  the  call  for  help,  and  ran  up. 

"  Fighting,  are  you  ?  "  said  the  young  limb,  who  had 
however  comprehended  the  situation  at  a  glance. 

"  Run  quick  for  help ;  I'm  afraid  Hartnagel  is  dead," 
said   Ruthvon. 

"  Hartnagel !  "  cried  Billy.  "  Get  off  him ;  "  and  in  a 
a  moment  he  had  rolled  Ruthvon  off  his  friend.     "  Tom, 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  311 

Tom,  are  you  dead?"  he  continued,  greatly  excited. 
"  Here,  you  rascal,  hurry  up  ;  grow  this  way  quick,"  he 
shouted  to  Rothermel,  who  was  coming  from  the  corn  field. 
By  this  time  Mr.  Ruthvon  was  regaining  some  power 
of  limb  and  arm  and  was  able  to  render  a  little  assistance. 
They  raised  Tom  and  carried  him  to  the  house.  Blood 
was  oozing  from  a  cut  on  his  head.  By  the  application 
of  water  and  other  remedies  he  was  soon  restored  to 
consciousness,  and  thus  Sallie  Vonneida's  lamentations 
were  somewhat  abated.  Meanwhile  Sharp  Billy  was 
sent  after  Doctor  Heifer.  He  rode  a  horse  bareback — • 
rode  like  a  boy  escaping  from  the  jaws  of  destruction  — 
and  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time  the  doctor  was 
on  the  scene.  The  latter  pronounced  Hartnagel's  hurt 
only  a  scalp  wound,  and  said  that  with  a  little  care  the 
patient  would  soon  be  around  again.  A  sprained  ankle 
and  a  bruise  near  the  old  wound  complicated  matters 
somewhat. 

"  That  was  a  narrow  escape,  by  the  great  Eulenspie- 
gel,  Ruthvon,  and  only  for  Tom  Hartnagel  I  think 
my  services  wouldn't  have  been  needed,"  said  Heifer 
after  viewing  the  place  over  which  Mr.  Ruthvon  had  been 
suspended. 

"  I  believe  it,"  answered  the  latter  briefly  but  with 
far  more  emotion  than  he  was  wont  to  manifest.  The 
doctor  noticed  this  and  was  wise  enough  to  say  nothing 
more. 

Frank  Chetwynde  came  over  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  the 
accident  and  in  the  evening;  asked  whether  Tom  could 


312  ENEMIES   EST   THE   BEAR; 

be  conveyed  to  Mr.  Chetwynde's  house.  Tom  thought 
he  could  go. 

"  Oh,  no,  Tom,  you  can't  go  to-night,"  said  Maria 
Ruthvon  with  motherly  kindness. 

"  Nix  !  "  exclaimed  Frederick  Ruthvon,  "  you  remain 
here  in  my  house  until  you  are  able  to  walk  home. 
Say  nothing  more  about  going  to  Chetwynde's  to-night. 
We'll  show  you  that  we  can  take  care  of  you  as  well  as 
the  Yankee,  by  henker  !  " 

And  Catharine  said  he  must  not  go,  and  Sallie  smiled 
on  him  so  sweetly,  and  grandmother  said  that  to  move  a 
man  from  one  house  to  another  on  the  very  same  day  he 
was  hurt  was  unlucky. 

"  I  often  heard  my  mother  say  so,"  she  went  on. 
"  It'll  never  do,  you  Tom.  You  can't  go  to-day,  and  if 
there's  any  signs  of  wild-fire  on  the  wound,  I'll  drive  it 
off  bad  quick." 

This  clinched  the  nail  and  our  friend  yielded  cheer- 
fully. 

"  Well,  it's  all  right  so,  I  think,"  said  he  as  he  lay  on  the 
comfortable  lounge.  "  I  just  got  down  from  Harrisburg 
at  noon  and  was  on  my  way  home  from  the  depot.  I 
saw  you  standing  on  nothing  out  there,  Fred,  and  I 
think  even  Pete  Prantman  would  have  tried  to  help  you. 
But  I  thought  I  ought  to  go  to  Chetwynde's  to-night 
because  after  what  I  said  to  you  not  long  ago  and  after 
what  you  said  to  me  on  the  same  occasion,  I  sup- 
posed "  — 

"  Say  now  no  more  about  that,"  interrupted  Frederick 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  313 

Ruth  von  hastily.  "  And  remember,  you  Tom  Hart- 
nagel,  that  you  are  always  welcome  in  this  house  and  on 
these  premises  by  day  and  by  night,  and  whenever  you 
need  anything  call  on  me,  and  if  I  can  give  it  to  you, 
you  shall  have  it,"  and  he  left  the  room  before  Tom 
could  say  a  word  in  reply. 

Mrs.  Ruthvon  rejoiced  secretly  and,  like  one  of  old, 
pondered  these  things  in  her  heart.  They  were  to  her  a 
token  that  her  husband  would  by  and  by  relent  toward 
their  boy  and  call  him  back  again.  Meanwhile  she 
could  only  pray  for  the  absent  one  and  hope  on.  She 
was  comforted  by  the  words  of  Neumark's  grand  old 
hymn,  familiar  to  her  from  her  earliest  childhood  :  — 

"  Wer  nur  den  lieben  Gott  laeszt  walten, 
Und  hoffet  auf  Ihn  allezeit, 
Den  wird  Er  wunderbar  erhalten 
In  allem  Kreuz  und  Traurigkeit  ; 
Wer  Gott,  dem  Allerhoechsten,  traut, 
Der  hat  auf  keinen  Sand  gebaut." 

In  less  than  a  week  after  the  accident  Tom  Hartnagel 
was  able  to  walk  to  Mr.  Chetwynde's  house.  Then  first 
he  learned  of  the  alienation  of  Mr.  Ruthvon  from  his 
son,  for  Mrs.  Rvithvon  had  forbidden  Sallie  to  inform 
him  of  the  fact  on  pain  of  her  great  displeasure.  Tom 
was  very  indignant  and  declared  he  was  going  right  back  to 
tell  old  Ruthvon  again  that  he  ought  to  be  ashamed  of 
himself,  but  when  Mrs.  Chetwynde  showed  the  impetu- 
ous young  man  the  folly  of  such  a  course  he  reluctantly 
abandoned  it. 


314  ENEMIES  IN   THE    REAR. 

Blanche  Chetwynde  was  now  quite  sure,  not  only  that 
she  had  done  riglit  in  rejecting  Charles  Ruthvon's  pro- 
posal, but  also  that  it  was  her  duty  to  urge  him  at  her 
first  opportunity  to  think  of  her  only  as  a  dear  friend. 

After  an  absence  of  nearly  two  weeks  Jabez  Chet- 
wynde and  Charles  returned  from  their  quest.  They 
had  made  diligent  inquiry  in  every  place  where  they 
supposed  information  of  the  missing  soldier  might  pos- 
sibly be  obtained,  but  all  that  they  could  learn  was 
that  Clinton  had  last  been  seen  bravely  fighting  and 
almost  surrounded  by  Confederates  who  had  suddenly 
swung  round  and  made  a  momentary  stand  near  the 
creek.  With  heavy  hearts  they  gave  up  the  search 
and  turned  homeward.  Captain  Ruthvon  tried  to 
comfort  the  afilicted  father  with  a  hope  he  hardly 
dared  entertain  himself.  He  knew  that  in  every  great 
battle  many  of  the  combatants  disappear  and  are  never 
heard  of  again  though  their  names  are  not  on  the 
prmted  lists  of  the  dead.  The  earth  seems  to  swal- 
low them  up.  Antietam  would  not  prove  an  excep- 
tion. 

On  arriving  at  Haltfest  Charles  went  to  Squire 
Zweispringer's  house.  He  received  a  warm  reception 
and  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  both  father  and  daugh- 
ter he  concluded  to  make  his  home  there  for  the  remainder 
of  his  furlough.  In  view  of  his  friendship  with  Clinton 
Chetwynde  his  presence  in  the  family  was  a  comfort 
to  poor,  stricken  Susie,  but  it  drove  another  big  nail 
into  her  worthy  father's  political    coffin. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


DANGEEOUS    COUNSELS. 


The  battle  of  Antietam,  while  not  decisive,  delivered 
Pennsylvania  from  immediate  danger  and  freed  even 
Maryland  almost  completely  from  the  presence  of  rebels. 
The  fierce  tide  of  war  once  more  ebbed  away  from  these 
states  back  into  Virginia.  The  draft  was  spoken  of 
again.  Men  said  it  would  surely  be  made  now.  To 
stop  it  was  the  prime  object  of  the  Golden  Circle 
knighthood. 

The  meeting  appointed  for  Saturday,  September  27th, 
at  Mike  Hahn's  was  duly  held,  and,  as  has  been  hinted, 
the  second  meeting  of  the  lodge  took  place  there  on  the 
evening  of  that  day.  Beyond  the  initiation  of  a  dozen 
new  members,  the  impartation  of  some  additional  grips 
and  signs  and  the  election  of  certain  lodge  officers,  little 
was  done  on  the  latter  occasion  however.  It  is  true, 
Huber's  statement  in  reference  to  Captain  Charles  Ruth- 
von's  suspected  communication  with  the  military  author- 
ities created  some  excitement,  but  the  leader  did  not 
advise  any  action  in  the  matter.  The  fact  that  the 
draft,  which  was  to  have  been  made  two  days  before, 
was  once  more  postponed  —  this  time  for  three  weeks  — 
to  October  16th, —  had  probably  led  him  to  believe  that 
the  government  either  did  not  need  more  men  or  else 


316  ENEMIES   EST   THE   REAR  ; 

was  afraid  to  proceed.  He  hinted  as  much,  to  the  lodge 
but  appointed  another  meeting,  to  be  held  two  weeks 
later  at  the  same  place.  When  this  convened  October 
11th  had  come,  but  there  were  no  signs  that  the  dreaded 
draft  would  again  be  put  off.  On  the  contrary  it 
seemed  certain  that  this  time  it  would  be  made. 

"  My  fellow  Knights,"  said  Huber  after  eight  new 
members  had  been  duly  initiated,  "  it  is  my  solemn  duty 
to  inform  you  that  unless  the  election  goes  against  Lin- 
cohi  next  Tuesday,  their  is  no  hope  for  another  postpone- 
ment of  the  awful  draft.  I  had  it  to-day  on  the  best 
authority  that  the  preparations  are  complete  to  go  ahead 
with  it  next  Thursday.  Therefore  we  must  take  meas- 
ures to  defend  ourselves,  peaceably  if  we  can,  forcibly  if  we 
must,  against  the  oppression  of  Abe  Lincoln,  and  to  com- 
pel the  government  to  listen  to  the  people's  complaints." 

There  was  silence  in  the  lodge  for  the  space  of  a 
minute.  The  government  was  still  a  considerable  force 
and  how  to  resist  its  tyranny  successfully  and  to  compel 
it  to  listen  was  a  problem  requiring  for  its  solution  at 
least  that  amount  of  time.  Indeed,  at  the  expiration  of 
the  minute  no  brain  apparently  had  quite  solved  it,  but 
as  a  short  step  in  that  direction  Pete  Prantman  ven- 
tured to  ask  how  many  days  Huber  thought  would  be 
allowed  drafted  men  to  get  ready  for  army  service. 

"  I  believe  the  custom  is  to  allow  very  little  time  — 
certainly  not  more  than  two  weeks,"  answered  Huber. 

"  That  would  give  altogether  nearly  three  weeks  and 
in  that  time  a  good  deal  can  be  done,"  said  Pete. 


OR,    A    GOLDEK   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  317 

"  And  what  would  you  for  one  propose,  Prantman  ?  " 
asked  Huber.  This  was  what  Mr.  Bofhn  would  have 
called  "  a  scarer."  Pete  hesitated  a  moment.  He  was 
about  to  say  "  Coarse  salt "  when  some  one  suggested 
"A  ten  dollar  note."  A  laugh  followed  at  Pete's  ex- 
pense but  Huber  quickly  stopped  it  by  saying  that  it 
was  no  laughing  matter  for  it  involved  men's  liberties. 

"  I'd  say  guns,  pistols  and  knives,  if  I  had  my  way," 
said  Jake  Zellon  sullenly,  whereupon  the  member  who 
had  spoken  before  remarked  that  that  was  like  a  cross- 
cut saw  because  others  could  use  them  too.  This 
nettled  Zellon  and  Huber  was  once  more  obliged  to 
interpose  his  authority. 

"If  we  want  to  keep  off  the  dangers  that  threaten,  we 
must  be  united,"  said  he  after  order  had  been  restored. 
"  Now,  I  don't  believe  in  bloodshed  if  it  can  be  avoided, 
but  if  an  enemy  knows  that  his  adversary  is  prepared  to 
meet  him,  it  will  often  incline  him  to  yield  a  good  deal. 
Hence,  while  we  must  be  prudent  we  must  at  the  self 
same  time  let  these  tyrants  know  by  quiet  hints  that  we 
are  prepared  to  resist  them.  And  the  hints  must  not 
be  empty  boasting  either  :  we  must  gather  weapons." 

"  Now,  I  have  a  plan,"  he  continued  in  lower  tones, 
while  his  hearers  hung  on  his  words.  "We  must  all 
contribute  something,  and  the  Indiana  members  of  our 
patriotic  order,  who  have  plenty  of  money,  will  give  us 
what  more  is  needed.  I  mean  with  these  moneys  we 
must  purchase  arms.  If  you  agree,  I  can  start  an  agent 
for  Indiana  to-morrow  to  see  leading  men  there  and  in 


318  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR  ; 

two  weeks  we  can  have  tlie  guns,  foi-  I  know  just  where 
to  get  them." 

Huber's  proposition  was  unanimously  agreed  to,  after 
Hans  Prantman  had  first  stipulated  that  the  contribu- 
tion aforesaid  was  not  to  be  laid  as  a  tax,  but  was  to  be 
according  to  a  man's  knowledge  of  his  ability  to  give. 

"  Where  can  we  store  these  arms  for  the  present  ?  " 
Huber  next  inquired.  Some  one  suggested  Ruthvon's 
barn  but  Frederick  Ruthvon  was  absent  to-night,  and 
besides  on  account  of  his  renegade  son,  whose  furlough 
would  not  expire  for  several  weeks  yet,  the  suggestion 
was  out  of  the  question. 

Prantman's  barn  was  then  mentioned,  but  Hans  said 
there  was  no  room,  because  of  the  large  stock  of  cattle 
and  sheep.  Why  not  at  Huber's  as  headquarters?  a 
member  asked.  But  the  prudent  leader  —  who  never 
took  a  risk  he  could  make  another  assume  —  promptly 
replied  that  his  place  was  too  far  out  of  the  way,  and 
that,  aside  from  that,  he  lived  in  a  county  very  hostile 
to  the  good  cause. 

Jake  Zellon  then  said  he  knew  just  the  place  —  Mehl- 
huber's  mill.  In  the  wheel-room  any  amount  of  arms 
and  ammunition  could  be  hid  away.  The  proprietor 
demurred  emphatically,  for  somehow,  dull  as  he  was,  he 
had  an  idea  that  there  might  be  danger  lurking  in  this 
new  enterprise.  But  the  vote  in  favor  of  the  mill  was 
unanimous  and  Christian  was  given  to  understand  that 
there  were  other  mills  in  the  county  where  grists  could 
be  ground.     This  threat  quickly  brought  him  to  terms, 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  319 

though  he  cursed  Zellon  in  his  heart  for  suggesting  the 
mill  to  the  lodge. 

"  But  Rambeutel  must  leave,"  said  Jake  ;  "  he  isn't  a 
Knight  and  is  such  a  coward." 

To  this  Mehlhuber  was  also  obliged  to  agree  Then  a 
subscription  paper  was  circulated  and  the  lodge  adjourned 
to  meet  on  Saturday  night  after  the  draft,  in  a  hall  over 
the  bar-room  of  "  The  People's  Hotel "  in  Haltfest. 
And  surely,  if  slowly,  the  strong  arm  was  coming  closer 
to  Huber. 

It  so  happened  that  Tom  Hartnagel's  sister,  Lovina 
Hartnagel,  had  gone  into  service  at  Mike  Hahn's  about 
three  weeks  before.  She  Avas  a  quiet,  retiring  girl  but  in 
her  way  quite  intelligent.  She  idolized  her  brother  Tom 
and  had  imbibed  all  his  patriotic  notions.  He  had  told 
her  of  the  appointments  for  September  27th  in  Hahn's 
barn,  and  urged  her  to  keep  a  sharp  watch  and  learn  all 
she  safely  could.  The  weather  was  chilly  and  very  un- 
pleasant now  and  hence  the  meeting  of  October  11th  was 
held  in  the  large  living-room  of  the  house.  The  win- 
dows were  carefully  closed  up  and  two  guards  were 
stationed  outside.  No  spies  could  come  near  without 
being  detected  at  once.  But  unfortunately  Mike  Halin 
forgot,  and  the  others  did  not  know,  that  Lovina's  little 
chamber  was  directly  over  the  room  where  the  lodge 
met.  Neither  did  any  one  notice  that  there  was  a  large 
knot-hole  in  the  floor  above  them.  Of  this  meeting 
Lovina  of  course  knew  nothing,  but  Avhen  after  dark 
men  began  to  come  into  the  house  in  unusual  numbers 


320  ENEMIES    DSr    THE    REAR  ; 

her  suspicions  were  at  once  aroused.  The  lodge  opened 
and  proceeded  with  its  work  unconscious  of  the  fact 
that  a  very  acute  female  ear  was  all  the  while  at  that 
knot-hole  hearing  every  word  that  was  said. 

When  the  proceedings  closed  Lovina  was  in  a  trem- 
ble, and  for  hours  after  the  Knights  had  dispersed  she 
lay  awake  thinking  of  what  she  had  heard  and  what 
she  ought  to  do.  Her  brother  was  so  impetuous,  if  she 
told  him  he  would  likely  do  something  that  would  cause 
both  him  and  her  trouble.  And  yet  at  all  hazards  some 
true,  loyal  person  must  be  informed  of  what  was  going 
on.  But  who  more  true  and  loyal  than  Tom  ?  And  to 
inform  any  one  but  him  first  would  be  disloyalty  to  him. 
Of  that  she  would  never  be  guilty.  She  would  tell 
him  and  if  trouble  came,  let  it  come. 

The  next  day  was  Sunday,  and  the  funeral  of  Wilham 
Fox,  a  brave  Union  soldier  killed  at  Antietam,  was  held 
in  the  old  church.  Of  course  Tom  Hartnagel  was  pres- 
ent. Lovina  saw  how  stern  he  looked  all  through  the 
service,  as  if  he  were  ready  to  spring  on  any  man  in  the 
vast  audience  who  might  say  a  disparaging  word  of  the 
Union  or  its  soldiers,  and  her  heart  almost  failed  her. 
But  when  the  congregation  was  dispersing  she  drew  him 
aside,  and  as  they  walked  down  the  road  toward  th| 
village,  she  communicated  to  him  all  she  had  heard  on 
the  previous  evening.  He  gave  an  irreverent  whistle 
and  then  uttered  one  or  two  words  not  at  all  in  keepmg 
with  the  solemn  exercises  he  had  just  listened  to. 

"  Lovina,  you  are  a  bully  girl,  clean  down  honest," 


OB,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  321 

said  he.  "  Now,  not  a  word  of  this  to  any  one  at  pres- 
ent, not  even  to  father.  And  who  would  have  thought 
at  it  ?  You  have  been  initiated  into  the  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Circle,  Lovina  !  Go  away  once  !  But" — wink- 
ing at  her  —  •'  I  think  I'm  just  as  bad  as  you  !  Now  we 
must  hold  our  mouths,  the  road  is  too  full  of  rebels." 

At  Haltfest  they  separated.  Tom  found  Captain 
Ruthvon  at  Squire  Zweispringer's  and  informed  him  of 
what  his  sister  had  learned  regarding  the  plans  of  the 
Knights. 

"  It  is  better  they  should  be  found  out,  Tom,  before 
they  do  something  that  will  bring  them  into  serious  con- 
flict with  the  government,"  said  Charles,  after  hearing 
Hartnagel's  account.  "I  am  glad  Lovina  overheard 
them." 

The  day  following  he  reported  the  matter  to  the  mil- 
itary authorities  at  Reading,  but  under  the  law  as  it 
stood  at  that  period  of  the  war,  unless  they  committed 
an  overt  act  of  treason,  nothing  could  be  done  with  the 
Knights  beyond  watching  them. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

A     LOTTERY     IN     WHICH     ALL     THE     TICKET-HOLDERS 
WANTED   BLANKS. 

The  draft  of  1862  was  postponed  three  times  in 
Pennsylvania,  twice  on  account  of  unfinished  prepara- 
tion and  a  third  time  because  the  government,  being  no 
longer  so  hard  pushed  for  men,  was  desirous  of  giving 
the  delinquent  districts  one  more  opportimity  to  make  up 
their  several  quotas  of  troops.  Some  townships  made 
strenuous  exertions  and  filled  out  their  allotment,  but  in 
others,  notably  where  the  Golden  Circle  had  gained  a 
foothold,  little  effort  was  put  forth. 

Of  the  latter  Copton  was  one.  It  is  true,  a  meeting 
was  held  in  Haltfest  ostensibly  to  encourage  volunteer- 
ing, but  the  proceedings  did  not  tend  to  promote  that 
end.  The  principal  speaker,  then  a  prominent  office- 
holder, had  much  to  say  about  the  Emancipation  Procla- 
mation and  the  horrors  that  must  attend  the  execution  of 
its  provisions ;  he  expatiated  on  the  ill  effects  of  Lincoln 
coffee  on  the  system ;  he  described  the  clothes  furnished 
the  soldiers  as  shoddy  and  shavings  ;  and  characterized 
Abraham  Lincoln  as  the  new  god  whom  the  Radicals 
addressed  in  their  prayers  saying :  "  Father  Abraham, 
who  art  in  the  White  House,"  etc.  Some  of  the  lan- 
guage he  employed  was  such  that,  while  it  delighted  the 


OR,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  323 

Prantmans  and  men  of  that  ^amp,  it  could  not  have 
been  v;sed  in  the  presence  of  ladies,  and  brought  a  blush 
to  the  cheek  of  every  decent  man  in  the  audience.  Even 
so  strong  a  pro-slavery  man  as  Frederick  Ruthvon  de- 
clared it  was  a  shame.  The  meeting  resulted  in  several 
cheers  for  Jeff  Davis  but  produced  no  volunteers  for  the 
Union  army. 

The  upshot  of  it  all  was  that  when  October  16th 
arrived  Copton  township  was  forty-two  men  short  of  its 
quota.  The  city  was  full  of  country  people  for  the  draft 
was  something  new  to  that  generation.  Men  heard  the 
fathers  speak  of  a  draft  that  was  made  during  the  second 
war  with  England  but  up  to  the  time  of  the  enrollment 
in  August  it  was  hardly  thought  possible  that  such  a 
thing  could  occur  in  their  own  day.  But  it  was  about 
to  happen  nevertheless. 

"  Uncle  Sam's  Lottery,"  as  it  was  facetiously  called, 
was  located  in  the  same  room  in  the  Bell  building  in 
which  the  claims  for  exemption  had  been  heard  and  was 
conducted  under  the  supervision  of  the  Commissioner 
of  Draft  for  the  district.  The  names  of  those  enrolled 
were  written  on  separate  slips  of  paper.  The  Sheriff  of 
the  county  placed  the  slips  from  a  given  township  or 
ward  in  a  wheel,  such  as  is  used  in  drawing  jurors,  and 
after  each  turn  of  the  wheel  a  blindfold  boy  drew  out 
one.  The  persons  whose  names  were  thus  drawn  were 
drafted.  Double  the  number  wanted  were  drawn  so  as 
to  leave  sufficient  margin  for  final  exemptions,  deaths, 
etc.     The  names  were  enrolled  in  the  exact  order  in 


324  E]SrEMIES    EST   THE   EEAB,  ; 

which  they  were  taken  from  the  wheel.  Thus  the  own- 
ers of  those  near  the  foot  of  the  roll  still  had  several 
chances  to  escape  from  actual  service. 

The  Sheriff  took  each  slip  as  drawn  and  read  aloud 
the  name  written  upon  it.  He  then  handed  the  slip  to 
the  Commissioner  who  repeated  the  name,  and  a  clerk 
called  it  out  of  the  window  for  the  benefit  of  the  people 
in  the  street  below.  There  a  great  throng  had  gath- 
ered, for  although  the  drawing  was  public  the  room 
where  it  was  done  could  hold  but  a  small  proportion 
of  those  who  desired  admission.  The  concourse  was 
largely  composed  of  enrolled  persons,  with  however  a 
fair  sprinkling  of  old  men  and  boys.  Here  and  there  a 
woman  might  be  seen,  standing  by  the  side  of  a  husband 
or  brother,  anxiously  waiting  to  see  what  the  day  would 
bring  forth  for  her  loved  one.  Such  as  were  members 
of  the  Golden  Circle  instinctively  grouped  themselves 
together,  but  their  leader  did  not  once  lend  them  the  en- 
couragement of  his  presence.  He  deemed  it  best  for  the 
cause  he  represented,  to  say  nothing  of  his  personal 
safety,  not  to  expose  himself  to  the  gaze  of  Lincohi's  min- 
ions more  than  was  actually  necessary.  It  was  a  trifle 
chilly  that  October  day  and  Pete  Prantman's  teeth  would 
chatter  again  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts  to  keep  them 
quiet.  He  had  visited  Katrina  Galsch  the  preceding 
night  to  learn  the  issue  beforehand  so  far  as  it  related  to 
himself,  but  she  pretended  to  be  ill  and  he  failed  to  see 
her.  Wearing  the  blue  jean  coat  with  the  long  tails,  he 
stood  in  the  street  to-day  in  unhappy  mood. 


OE,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  325 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  in  "  Uncle  Sam's  Lottery  "  every 
ticket-holder  desired  a  blank,  so  to  speak.  A  few  indeed 
expressed  themselves  as  entirely  indifferent  —  they  would 
just  as  lief  be  drawn  as  not.  Young  fellows  were  they, 
with  no  one  dependent  on  them  and  no  ties  to  bind 
them,  but  in  the  countenances  and  movements  of  even 
these  there  was  that  which  gave  abundant  proof  that 
their  feelings  did  not  tally  with  their  brave  words. 

The  first  township  drawn  was  Albany ;  then  Alsace ; 
by  and  by  Copton.  Eighty-four  names  were  to  be  fur- 
nished by  its  roll  and  the  chances  of  "  drawing  a  blank  " 
were  about  two  out  of  three.  Probably  one  half  of  the 
men  enrolled  in  the  township  were  present,  and  when  it 
was  reached  they  were  keenly  alive  to  the  situation. 

The  first  name  draT\m  was  that  of  Ezra  IMattes,  a 
laboring  man  not  present.  "•  Ephraun  Banteufel " 
shouted  the  clerk  at  the  window  and  promptly  some  one 
shouted  back  from  the  street :  "  Call  louder  else  he  won't 
hear  you.     He  Avas  buried  near  two  weeks  ago  !  " 

Samuel  Wam slier  was  the  next  to  draw  a  prize. 
Samuel  was  an  itinerant  showman  and  held  the  position 
of  tumbler  and  contortionist  in  his  troupe.  He  created 
a  diversion  by  running  into  a  clear  space  in  the  street 
when  his  name  was  called,  throwing  a  somersault 
and  crowing  like  a  rooster.  But  the  wheel  turned 
quickly  and  the  name  of  Hen  Weinmiller  was  next 
heard.  He  would  be  exempted  surely,  some  one  jocosely 
remarked,  because  the  people  of  Haltfest  could  not  get 
along  without  him. 


326  ENEMIES    IN   THE    REAR; 

"  Ach  Gott !  "  cried  a  man  in  pathetic  tones  on  hear- 
ing his  name  from  the  window  and  sank  to  the  ground 
in  a  faint.  It  was  Calvin  Kalbfleisch,  he  whose  claim  for 
exemption  was  just.  His  cry  brought  tears  to  many 
eyes.  Little  time  was  there  for  pity  however.  The 
names  followed  each  other  rapidly. 

"  Fritz  Kleinkammer  "  called  the  clerk.  There  was 
laughter  among  Fritz's  acquaintances,  for  he  was  to  be 
married  in  a  few  days.  It  was  hardly  a  subject  for 
mirth,  but  those  who  knew  Betsy  Braunmiller  thought 
that  in  this  case  the  chances  of  war  would  not  be  much 
worse  than  those  of  matrimony. 

Clear  and  distinct  came  "  James  Fetzer." 

"  You  can  easy  pull  out  my  name  but  it  won't  be  so 
easy  to  get  the  owner,"  he  yelled  back.  Muttering  an 
oath,  he  made  his  way  out  of  the  crowd.  Doctor  Goett- 
man's  prophecy  had  failed  for  the  first  time  ! 

A  few  more  names  and  then  from  the  window  "  Carl 
Schlapphammel "  was  announced.  Bravely  he  answered 
"  Here !  "  Among  the  Knights  there  was  nudging  of 
elbows,  and  "  Serves  the  traitor  right "  was  heard. 
But  Carl  replied  defiantly :  "  I'd  rather  be  drafted  into 
the  army  than  be  forced  to  take  an  unlawful  oath  in 
Prantman's  barn,  any  day  in  the  week,  clean  down 
honest."  They  shook  their  fists  at  him  but  dared  not 
provoke  him  further. 

When  the  name  of  Adam  Flickinger  was  drawn  the 
people  laughed  again,  for  Adam  was  an  octogenarian 
and  it  was  evident  in  this  case  as  well  as  in  that  of  Chris- 


OR,    A   GOLDEK   CIRCLE   SQUAEED.  327 

topher  Stettler  that  Elijali  Belsnickel  had  been  imposed 
upon  by  somebody.  Adam  was  wiser  than  Christopher 
and  had  not  taken  the  trouble  to  attend  exemption  day. 

Nathaniel  Gottschall's  name  was  the  next  to  be  placed 
upon  the  fatal  roll. 

"  It's  hitting  the  blacksnakes  now,  ain't  it  is  ?  "  said 
Pete  Prantman.  "  Nate  is  the  blackest  kind.  He  said  a 
nigger  was  better  than  some  white  men  he  knew.  The 
Abolitionist !  I'm  glad  he's  hit  and  I  hope  he'll  get  his 
dues.      Sapperlotte  once  more  ! " 

Another  turn  of  the  wheel.  The  blindfold  boy  puts 
in  his  hand.  He  draws  out  a  slip  and  lifts  it  up.  The 
Sheriff  takes  it  and  reads.  Then  the  Commissioner. 
Then  the  clerk,  and  the  crowd  is  greeted  with  "  Peter 
Prantman  !  " 

"  Donnerwetter ! "  shouted  the  owner  of  the  name 
starting  much  as  he  did  the  last  time  he  had  heard  the 
Indian.  Then  he  stood  for  a  whole  minute  like  one 
struck  dumb.  If  ever  there  was  a  frightened  mortal,  it 
was  Pete  Prantman  that  day,  and  if  in  thought  he  was 
already  facing  the  horrors  of  the  battlefield,  his  face 
certainly  did  not  contradict  his  fancies.  His  father 
came  up  to  him  and  told  him  to  come  along  —  it  was 
time  to  go  home.      Then  he  found  his  tongue. 

"  I'm  not  going  in  the  war.  I'll  kill  myself  first,  pap, 
holy  cross  !  "  and  he  stamped  on  the  ground  with  his 
big  cow-hide  boots  as  a  stubborn  boy  might,  to  the  great 
amusement  of  those  about  him.  No  one  pitied  the 
burly  coward  now  that  his  turn  had  come. 


328  ENEMIES    IN"   THE   REAR; 

"  Well,  don't  make  a  fool  of  yourself  anyhow/'  said 
Hans  angrily  as  lie  took  his  son  away.  "  Don't  you  see 
the  worshipers  of  black  Abe  all  laughing  at  you?" 

By  this  time  the  next  name  and  the  next  had  been 
called  and  attention  was  diverted  from  Pete  and  cen- 
tered on  the  wmdow  again.  The  name  of  a  toothless 
man,  then  that  of  a  cripple  and  that  of  a  blind  man, 
followed  each  other  in  tolerably  close  succession  and  at 
each  there  were  more  or  less  laughing  and  rude  jesting. 

Presently  a  slip  was  drawn  on  which  was  written 
"  Patrick  Mahoney."  Our  Irish  friend  promptly  re- 
sponded to  Uncle  Sam's  call. 

"  Oi'm  here,  your  honor,"  said  he  making  a  bow 
to  the  clerk  at  the  window,  "  an'  since  the  day  ye 
refused  to  iximpt  me  Oi've  renounced  me  faith.  Oi'm 
a  resister  now  an'  bad  luck  to  the  ribel  what  gits  in 
Patrick  Mahoney's  way,  for  he'll  be  dead  afore  he 
becomes  conscious  of  it.  An'  Oi'U  git  away  from  Biddy 
too  an'  dhrink  whin  Oi  loike,  an'  if  Oi'm  kilt,  Oi'll 
have  a  noice  wake,  an'  Biddy '11  cry  her  eyes  out !  "  And 
away  he  went  to  the  nearest  saloon  to  solace  himself 
with  whiskey  and  the  thought  that  if  he  must  face  the 
dangers  of  war,  he  would  at  least  for  the  time  be 
released  from  the  tyranny  of  his  termagant  wife. 

A  little  later  the  clerk  read  out  the  name  of  Jacob 
Zellon.      Jake  frowned  and  then  smiled  disdainfully. 

"  Many  a  bird  will  be  hatched  before  the  Radicals  see 
me  fight  to  free  niggers,"  said  he,  interlarding  his  words 
with  the  vilest  oaths.     He  left  the  place  soon  after,  cast- 


OE,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED,  329 

ing  a  look  of  deadly  hate  at  Tom  Hartnagel  who  had 
just  arrived  and  stood  on  the  edge  of  the  crowd  m  his 
favorite  attitude. 

"Remember  Baltzer's  tavern  and  Prantman's  orchard," 
he  hissed  as  he  passed  Tom.  "  I'll  he  even  with  you 
before  veiy  long,  you  Hartnagel  pig  you." 

"I  remember  them,"  replied  Tom,  eyeing  him  steadily, 
"  and  Muhlenberg  Schlapphammel's  woods  in  the  bar- 
gain." 

Zellon's  step  wavered  just  a  moment  and  his  hand  ap- 
proached his  inside  coat  pocket,  but  he  recollected  him- 
self and  with  an  oath  passed  on. 

William  Rambeutel  exulted  in  secret  when  he  heard 
Zellon's  name  called.  He  felt  certain  Jake  had  instigated 
his  discharge  from  Mehlhuber's  employ.  His  triumph 
was  of  brief  duration,  for  a  few  mmutes  later  he  was 
startled  by  hearing  his  own  name.  However,  it  stood 
near  the  foot  of  the  list  and  he  would  very  probably 
escape. 

And  so  the  drawing  for  the  township  of  Copton  by 
and  by  was  finished.  The  Commissioner  announced  that 
the  drafted  men  were  required  to  appear  for  examination 
and  enrollment  on  Wednesday  forenoon,  October  2  2d. 

Various  were  the  comments  among  the  people  from 
Copton  when  its  roll  of  drafted  men  was  completed. 

"  Why  wasn't  Tom  Hartnagel  hit  ?  "  some  one  asked. 

"  Easy  to  know  that,  you  dumb-head,"  was  the  gruff 
reply.  "  He's  a  black  one  and  of  course  his  name  Avasn't 
in  that  there  wheel  at  all." 


330  ENEMIES    IN   THE   EEAE. 

"  But  Nate  Gottschall  was  hit  and  I  think  you  can't 
find  a  blacker  one  than  him,"  replied  the  other. 

"  Yes,  and  there's  Phil  Markbein  too.  He's  an  Abo- 
litionist," said  a  third. 

*' Jim  Fetzer  will  run  away,  but  Zellon  will  make  them 
come  and  take  him,"  said  the  second  speaker,  changing 
the  subject  when  he  found  the  theory  of  collusion  would 
not  work.  "If  they'd  all  do  that  Lincoln  wouldn't  get 
many  soldiers  by  drafting  I  think,  by  Judas  !  " 

Thus  the  talk  went  on. 

Tears  fell  on  many  a  hearthstone  that  night  when 
husbands  and  brothers  returned  and  reported  what  they 
had  drawn  in  "  Uncle  Sam's  Lottery."  There  were  sad 
communings  about  the  management  of  domestic  affairs 
during  the  absence  of  loved  ones  and  the  probabilities  of 
a  safe  return  home,  and  already  the  shadow  of  the  part- 
ing moment  began  to  obtrude  itself. 

Nevertheless  "  The  People's  Hotel "  had  a  fine  run 
of  custom  on  the  evening  after  the  draft  and  Hen  Wein- 
miller  was  kept  too  busy  to  think  of  his  misfortune. 
Some  drank  because  they  were  sad,  others  because  they 
were  glad  and  Sparger  because  he  could  not  help  hun- 
self.  Great  is  whiskey  and  the  devil  is  its  prophet! 
It  drove  away  the  sadness  of  the  sad,  it  made  gladder  the 
glad ;  but  on  the  morrow  the  sad  were  sadder,  the  glad 
were  gloomy  and  Sparger's  chains  were  riveted  on  its 
victim  more  firmly  than  ever. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

THE    KNIGHTS    AND    SOIVIE    BOYS   IN   BLUE. 

"  What's  going  on  in  the  hall  to-night  ?  "  said  Doctor 
Heifer  to  Squire  Zweispringer  as  the  two  sauntered  from 
the  office  of  the  former  toward  Baltzer's  tavern  on  Satur- 
day evening  after  the  draft. 

"  I  see  it's  lit  up,  but  I  haven't  heard  of  anything," 
answered  the  squire. 

"  Ho  !  if  there  isn't  Philip  Huber  just  coming  out  of 
•Fettig's  store  and  I'll  bet  the  brightest  button  against  a 
green  persimmon  that  he's  up  to  some  devilment." 

'■'•  He  and  his  lodge  will  get  trouble  before  long  I'm 
afraid  and  I  regret  that  Fred  Ruth  von  has  been  turned 
all  wrong  by  it." 

''  Fred  is  very  grateful  to  Tom  Hartnagel  and  good 
may  come  of  it,"  remarked  Heifer. 

"  I  hope  he'll  get  out  of  the  rmg  before  he  gets  caught 
with  the  rest." 

They  saw  Captain  Ruthvon  and  Tom  Hartnagel  stand- 
ing in  the  dim  light  in  front  of  Fettig's  grocery  ap- 
parently m  earnest  consultation,  and  asked  them  about 
the  light  in  the  hall.  The  answer  was  that  it  was  sup- 
posed the  drafted  men  from  Copton  township  were 
holding  a  meeting.  Presuming  that  others  also  might 
attend,  the  doctor  and  the  squu^e  went   up  stairs,  but 


332  ENEMIES   IN   THE    REAR; 

were  promptly  turned  back  by  the  sentinel  at  the  door 
who  said  that  a  private  meeting  of  drafted  men  was  be- 
ing held.  They  noticed,  however,  that  men  not  drafted 
came  up,  whispered  to  the  sentinel  and  were  at  once 
admitted  into  the  hall. 

"  Just  as  I  surmised,"  said  Heifer.  "  Huber  and  his 
crew  are  m  there." 

The  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  were  simply  hold- 
ing the  meeting  appointed  by  Huber  a  week  previously. 
The  windows  were  darkened  and  every  precaution  was 
taken  to  prevent  any  outsider  from  acquiring  a  knowl- 
edge of  what  was  done.  The  noise  in  the  room  below 
was  also  in  their  favor. 

Among  those  present  were  a  good  many  drafted  men, 
and  quite  a  number  who  had  stood  aloof  but,  being 
drafted  were  now  anxious  to  join,  were  initiated.  The 
latter  were  nearly  all  from  the  townships  of  Knocks- 
dehudel  and  Rattleton.  When  the  ceremony  of  initia- 
tion was  concluded  the  leader  proceeded  to  address  the 
lodge. 

"•  Knights,"  said  he  in  his  most  impressive  manner,  "  in 
spite  of  protests  and  entreaties  the  draft  has  been  made. 
Yes,  the  blow  of  the  tyrant  has  fallen  and  he  is  about  to 
place  his  uniform  of  infamy  upon  unwilling  citizens.  The 
crisis  has  come  and  we  must  act  like  men.'' 

"  What  shall  we  do  ?  "  asked  several  members  regard- 
less of  the  rules. 

"  The  messenger  I  sent  to  Indiana,"  replied  Huber, 
"  telegraphed  me  from  Muncie  to-day  on  his  way  back 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  333 

from  Indianapolis.  He  says  the  '  goods  '  we  ordered  will 
be  shipped  to-morrow.  There  are  five  hundred  rifles 
and  a  lot  of  small  arms.  The  boxes  will  be  marked 
unfinished  rijle  barrels  and  consigned  to  a  name  I  shall 
give  to  Mehlhuber.  They  can  be  conveyed  from  Read- 
ing after  dark  and  put  in  the  mill.  The  name  of  the 
'  goods  '  on  the  boxes  will  allay  suspicion  as  there  is  one 
or  two  gun-barrel  boring-mills  in  this  vicinity  and  such 
boxes  are  often  sent  here." 

"  That  there  is  good,"  said  Mike  Hahn  aloud. 

"  Is  it  all  right,  Mehlhuber  ?  "  inquired  Huber. 

"It  must  be  good  so,"  answered  Christian,  but  in 
very  rueful  tones  as  if  it  were  very  far  from  being 
"good,"  and  would  be  much  better  if  the  arms  were 
lost  on  the  way.  "  Somebody  else  must  haul  them  from 
Reading  though,"  he  slowly  added.  "  It  won't  look  so 
suspicious." 

"  That's  right,"  said  Huber.  "  Prantman  there  will 
haul  them  out." 

"  A  man  ought  to  be  paid  pretty  good  for  doing  such 
dangerous  work,"  said  Hans.  "Two  dollars  and  a  levy 
wouldn't  be  too  much." 

"  That'll  be  all  right,"  replied  Huber  smiling. 

"  How  about  reporting  next  Wednesday  ?  "  inquired 
Fritz  Kleinkammer.  "  Maybe  we're  all  in  the  army 
before  the  guns  come,  by  henker  !  You  said  once  we 
shouldn't  report,  Mr.  Huber." 

"  I  advise  all  to  report,"  answered  the  leader.  "  I 
have  it  on  good  ground  that  the  drafted  men  will  get  at 


334  ENEJSIIES   IN  THE   REAR; 

least  ten  days  more,  and  maybe  get  off  entirely  yet. 
Black  Abe  and  his  cabinet  are  getting  scared  on  account 
of  the  strength  of  our  order  in  the  west  and  because  we 
gained  so  much  in  Congressmen  in  the  election  last 
Tuesday.  So  I  advise  you  who  are  drafted  to  report 
next  week  and  then  when  you  come  back  on  furlough 
we  can  arrange  it  all  better  than  if  you  got  into  trouble 
by  not  reporting  this  time.  The  guns  will  then  be  here 
and  likely  before  that  time  there  will  be  an  uprismg  in 
the  west  that  will  stop  the  war  business  bad." 

To  a  man  these  people  believed  Huber.  Whether  he 
believed  his  own  statements  may  bear  discussion. 

"  It  is  well  always  to  be  prepared  for  the  worst,"  he 
went  on.  "If  by  any  mischance  you  should  be  forced 
into  the  army  and  should  ever  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Southern  soldiers,  or  be  hard  pushed  in  a  battle,  remem- 
ber the  sign  of  recognition.  —  All  of  you  give  it  now. 
So  !  That  is  good.  That  sign  will  protect  you  if  you 
are  in  personal  danger  after  capture,  for  our  members  in 
the  Abolition  army  have  a  good  understanding  with  our 
members  in  the  Confederate  army." 

"But  does  any  of  the  big  officers  belong  to  it?" 
asked  Pete  Prantman. 

"  Indeed  !  —  in  both  armies,  and  you  needn't  be  afraid 
to  make  yourself  known  to  them,"  answered  Huber.  — 
"  And  let  me  remind  those  of  you  who  are  not  drafted  of 
your  duty  to  those  who  are.  A  part  of  your  oath  was 
that  you  would  assist  those  who  refused  to  report  to  the 
Lincoln  officers  when  drafted.      Therefore  if   a  di*afted 


OR,    A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  335 

man  who  will  not  report  comes  to  your  house  by  day  or 
by  night  and  asks  for  food  or  shelter,  you  are  bound  by 
your  oath  to  grant  his  request,  and  if  he  is  pursued  by 
soldiers  you  must  give  him  hiding  if  you  can." 

Hans  Prantman  and  others  made  wry  faces  at  this, 
but  Jake  Zellon  said  '•  Good  for  that  there  I  " 

"  Now,  there  is  an  important  thing  I  wanted  to  ask 
about  when  Kleinkammer  interrupted  me,"  pursued  the 
leader.     "  Has  Rambeutel  been  discharged  ?  " 

"Yes,  he  has  and  is  in  Reading,"  replied  Mehlhuber. 

"  Who  is  in  his  place?  We  must  have  a  trusty  man 
there." 

"  I'm  the  man,  holy  cross !  "  exclaimed  Jake  Zellon 
savagely,  "  and  woe  to  the  man  who  tries  to  take  them 
without  my  leave." 

"You  mean  the  guns,  Zellon:  you're  all  right,"  said 
Huber  patronizingly. 

"Maybe  I  am,"  replied  Zellon  sullenly,  "but  I  don't 
believe  in  reporting  next  Wednesday,  and,  so  help  me 
the  crook !   I  for  one  won't  report,  that  there  is  settled." 

"  All  good,  Zellon,"  said  Huber.  "Every  Knight  is 
bound  to  help  you.  —  And  now  let  me  propose  some- 
thing," he  continued  in  a  lower  tone.  "  I  was  thinkmg 
at  what  a  friend  told  me  to-day  how  kind  the  people 
hereabout  were  in  July,  1861,  to  the  Tammany  regi- 
ment when  it  was  detained  at  this  station  several  hours 
on  its  way  to  the  war.  That  was  before  the  people 
knew  the  war  was  just  to  free  niggers  and  put  money 
in  the  pockets  of  the  big-bugs.     Now,  Yankee  Jedwig, 


336  ENEMIES   IN    THE   REAR; 

or  whatever  his  name  is,  is  said  to  be  doing  much  for  the 
soldiers  and  professes  to  love  them  a  great  deal.  You 
drafted  men  are  in  one  sense  soldiers  and  I  propose  that 
next  Saturday  night  you  all  pay  this  Abolitionist  a 
friendly  visit  and  see  whether  he'll  be  good  to  you. 
He  ought  to  give  you  a  good  supper  and  cider  anyhow." 

Huber's  proposition  was  received  with  great  enthusi- 
asm, especially  by  Pete  Prantman  and  Zellon.  Huber 
saw  how  eager  the  latter  were. 

"  Be  sure  to  make  the  visit  a  friendly  one,"  said  he 
smiling  pleasantly  and  laying  much  emphasis  on  the 
word  "  friendly." 

"  Are  you  sure  now,  Mr.  Huber,  we'll  get  five  or  ten 
days'  furlough  after  we  report?  "  inquired  an  airsious 
drafted  man. 

"  Quite  sure,  as  I  have  said,"  answered  Huber. — 
"We  will  meet  next  Friday  night  at  Mike  Halm's 
house. — Now,  is  there  anything  more  ?  " 

There  was.  Just  then  loud  voices  were  heard  m  the 
bar-room  below  and  much  confusion  appeared  to  prevail. 
Five  or  six  soldiers,  it  would  seem,  were  on  their  way 
back  to  Reading  from  a  point  near  Schnarraffelsschted- 
del,  whither  they  had  been  sent  under  a  petty  officer  to 
look  for  a  deserter.  Their  search  was  unsuccessful  and, 
weary  and  hungry,  they  turned  into  Baltzer's  tavern  to 
refresh  themselves.  While  so  engaged  they  learned  — 
from  Doctor  Heifer  it  is  believed  by  Mike  Hahn  to  this 
day  —  that  a  meeting  of  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle 
was  in  session  in  the  hall  above. 


OE,   A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  337 

"  The  traitors,"  shouted  one  of  the  soldiers.  "  We 
fight  and  they  plot  against  us.  —  Sergeant  Thompson, 
with  your  permission  we'll  see  wliat  they're  at.  Won't 
we,  bo^'s  ?  " 

"  We'll  clean  out  the  lodge  and  make  every  one  of 
them  take  the  oath,!'  was  the  hearty  response. 

"■  Careful,  only  fun,  lads,"  said  the  officer. 

"  All  right,  sergeant,'"  answered  the  spokesman. — 
"  Landlord,  show  us  the  way  quick." 

"  You  go  up  and  in  behind  there,"  said  Baltzer  point- 
ing with  his  finger.  The  bar-room  was  full  of  men,  and 
as  a  fight  was  expected  there  Avas  much  excitement. 
The  sentinel  heard  the  noise  and  caught  some  of  the 
words.  He  rushed  into  the  lodge-room  and  cried  that 
the  soldiers  were  coming  to  arrest  them  all.  Instantly 
a  dash  was  made  for  the  door.  Pete  Prantman  jumped 
over  three  benches  at  one  leap  and  in  three  leaps  more 
was  down  the  steep  stairway  and  in  the  back  yard. 
Clearing  the  fence  between  these  premises  and  those  of 
Caspar  Fettig,  he  crept  into  an  empty  store-box  as  the 
handiest  refuge.  Some  of  the  Knights  fell  down  the 
steps  and  others  rushed  over  them. 

Philip  Huber  was  one  of  the  first  out.  He  lost  his 
hat  and  bumped  his  nose  against  a  post  in  the  dark  yard 
but  he  never  stopped  until  he  was  safe  in  the  cellar  of 
Fettig's  store,  where  he  was  presently  joined  by  eight  or 
ten  of  his  fellow  Knights. 

In  all  the  turbulent  history  of  "  The  People's  Hotel " 
such  swearing  and    crowding  and   hurrying  had   never 


338  ENEMIES    IN  THE   EEAR ; 

been  known.  When  the  soldiers  reached  the  rear  en- 
trance they  found  one  man  lying  stunned  at  the  foot  of 
the  stairs  and  another  coming  leisurely  down.  The 
latter  was  Zellon.  Where  nothing  supernatural  was  in 
question  he  had  an  abundance  of  courage  of  the  bull-dog 
kind.  At  the  beginning  of  the  panic  he  had  called  on 
the  Knights  to  make  a  stand,  but  in  vain.  He  swore  at 
them  and  then  coolly  followed  them  down. 

"•  What  do  you  want  ?  "  he  demanded  of  the  soldiers. 

"  We  want  to  be  initiated  into  the  lodge,"  was  the 
reply. 

"I'll  have  to  do  it  myself  then,  for,  holy  cross!  the 
cowards  is  all  gone,"  said  Jake.  "  They  ought  to  be 
put  in  the  army,  every  one !  " 

And  sure  enough  when  the  boys  in  blue  reached  the 
hall  not  a  soul  was  to  be  seen. 

"  We've  cleaned  out  the  lodge  without  touching  a 
man,"  said  the  leader,  "  and  if  all  Knights  are  made  of 
such  stuff,  I  reckon  the  government  needn't  be  much 
afraid  of  them." 

The  soldiers  had  a  hearty  laugh  over  the  matter 
and  returned  to  the  bar-room.  After  they  had  resumed 
their  journey  to  Reading  Deacon  Fettig  —  who  was  a 
prominent  Knight  —  brought  Huber  and  the  rest  up 
from  the  cellar  by  the  stairs  leading  into  the  back  yard. 
Here  they  were  joined  by  Pete  Pantman  and  several 
others. 

"  I  think  these  fellows  were  not  after  us  at  all,  from 
what  Fettig  here  says,"  said  the  leader,  looking  rather 


OK,   A   GOLDEN  CIRCLE   SQUARED.  839 

crestfallen  even  in  the  dim  light  of  Fettig's  lantern  and 
speaking  in  tones  very  much  humbler  than  common; 
"  but  men  need  not  be  ashamed  to  run  and  hide  when 
tyrants  are  after  them  and  they  themselves  are  unarmed, 
—  especially  leaders,  for  these  must  always  bear  the 
persecution.  The  Christians  in  old  times  often  had  to 
do  this." 

As  they  came  around  the  store  into  the  street  Sam 
Barbour  emerged  from  the  grocery  with  sundry  pack- 
ages on  his  arms.  Barbour,  to  whom  allusion  has  once 
or  twice  been  made,  was  a  colored  man.  He  had  worked 
for  Jabez  Chetwynde  in  Connecticut  and  resolved  to 
go  with  his  employer  when  the  latter  moved  to  Penn- 
sylvania. Jabez  was  glad  to  have  him  do  so,  for  Sam 
was  a  sober,  steady  fellow,  of  whose  devotion  and  attach- 
ment to  those  who  meant  him  good  there  was  no  doubt. 
Though  long  isolated  from  his  race,  he  retained  its  char- 
acteristics of  dialect,  love  of  song,  and  shrewdness.  He 
had  a  wife  and  several  children,  lived  in  a  small  tenant 
house  and  worked  on  Mr.  Chetwynde's  farm. 

He  had  come  to  the  village  rather  late  to-night  and 
hearing  the  uproar  waited  to  learn  what  it  meant. 

"  There  is  one  of  the  rascals  for  whose  kind  a  good 
many  white  people  are  getting  drafted,"  said  Huber,  on 
whom  the  sight  of  a  colored  man  acted  as  an  irritant  — 
especially  just  now.  He  had  been  humiliated  and  felt 
that  somehow  this  poor  negro  was  partly  the  cause.  He 
knew  his  men  well,  and  what  he  said  in  guarded  lan- 
guage was  equivalent  to  the  "  Watch  him,  Tiger,"  which 


340  ENEISHES   IN   THE   REAR. 

a  man  addresses  to  liis  mastiff  when  lie  wishes  him  to 
spring  on  an  enemy.  Certainly  that  was  the  effect  of 
his  words.  Hardly  were  they  spoken  before  his  follow- 
ers came  up  to  Barbour,  and  while  some  stood  in  his  way, 
others  began  to  justle  him.  He  tried  to  get  away  from 
them,  but  whichever  way  he  turned  they  got  in  front  of 
him  and  prevented  his  going. 

"  Gen'lmen,  what  do  yous  wish  ?  "  he  asked,  after  bear- 
ing their  rudeness  as  long  as  he  could.  "  Please  let  me 
go  'long,  gen'lmen.  It's  gittin'  late  an'  I  has  some  of 
Mr.  Chetwynde's  things  heah,  dat's  sut'n,  an'  I  must  git 
'long  shuah." 

Pete  Prantman  waxed  very  bold.  All  the  instincts 
of  his  early  schoolday  supremacy  came  strong  upon  him. 
He  seized  Barbour's  packages  and  threw  them  on  the 
ground,  scattering  their  contents  in  every  direction. 
Enraged  by  the  unprovoked  assault,  Barbour  made  a 
furious  dash  at  Pete,  but  one  of  his  assailants  tripped 
him  up  and  he  fell  headlong.  He  rose  up  again  quickly, 
but  the  cowardly  ruffians  kicked  and  cuffed  him  until  he 
was  well  nigh  senseless,  after  which  they  ran  away  in 
the  darkness. 

An  assault  on  Sharp  Billy  by  James  Fetzer,  into 
whose  way  Galsch's  boy  happened  to  come,  wound  up 
the  disturbances  of  the  evening. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

AN  OLD  CHURCH  AND  A  MEMORABLE  SERVICE  THAT  WAS 
HELD  LIST  IT. 

From  Haltfest  toward  the  north  the  ground  rises  in 
terraces  until  at  the  end  of  a  mile  a  considerable  emi- 
nence is  reached  from  which  there  is  a  delightful  view 
across  one  of  the  finest  agricultural  valleys  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. On  this  height,  just  midway  between  the  French 
and  the  Revolutionary  wars,  was  erected  the  old  church 
to  which  reference  has  several  times  been  made.  It  was 
a  building  of  medium  size.  Its  walls  were  of  stone  and 
very  thick.  They  were  covered  with  a  preparation  of 
ground  brick,  which  gave  the  structure  the  appearance 
of  a  great  red  cube  with  a  steep  roof  on  the  upper  face. 

Within,  everything  was  ordered  after  the  most  prim- 
itive fashion.  The  walls  were  bare  and  the  windows 
small  and  dingy.  The  pews  were  high,  uncushioned  and 
uncomfortable.  No  carpet  was  visible  anywhere  save 
on  the  pulpit  steps.  On  three  sides  were  high  galleries ; 
on  the  fourth  was  the  little  "  wine-glass  "  pulpit  perched 
on  a  high  post.  In  the  west  gallery  was  a  small  but 
sweet-toned  pipe  organ.  The  bellows  of  this  instrument 
were  located  among  the  huge  timbers  of  the  loft  and  were 
operated  by  means  of  two  long  ropes  reaching  down 
through  the  ceiling  to  the  side  of  the  organ. 


342  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR  ; 

In  this  building  the  fathers  had  worshiped  for  gener- 
ations, without  a  change  in  the  order  of  service,  and  but 
httle  in  the  equipments.  Innovations  —  choirs,  co-seat- 
ing of  the  sexes,  Sunday  schools,  young  people's  societies, 
collections  for  missions  —  were  frowned  upon.  The  chil- 
dren were  quite  content  with  the  ways  of  the  fathers. 
And  when  the.  latter  were  done  with  earth  their  bodies 
were  laid  to  rest  in  the  beautiful  old  God's  Acre  hard 
by  the  church.  No  costly  monuments  were  erected  over 
their  graves.  They  who  slept  here  had  led  humble 
lives  and  a  few  simple  words  on  a  plain  marble  slab  were 
their  only  biography.  Of  them  Gray's  lines  were  de- 
scriptive :  — 

"Far  from  the  madding  crowd's  ignoble  strife, 
Their  sober  wishes  never  learn'd  to  stray; 
Along  the  cool  sequester' d  vale  of  life 
They  kept  the  noiseless  tenor  of  their  way.'' 

It  was  the  Sunday  morning  after  the  draft,  and 
although  the  services  were  appointed  for  ten  o'clock,  yet 
an  hour  before  people  from  all  parts  of  the  surrounding 
country  began  to  flock  to  the  church.  The  rumor  had 
gone  forth  that  the  good  old  pastor,  the  Reverend  Ortho 
Dox,  who  had  been  over  this  parish  for  a  generation, 
would  this  morning  in  his  sermon  make  reference  to  the 
draft  and  address  such  of  the  drafted  men  as  might  be 
present.  As  he  very  seldom  referred  to  current  events 
in  his  public  discourses  or  prayers  and  as  the  draft  came 
right  to  the  homes  of  many  of  his  parishioners,  expecta- 
tion was  awake  and  all  were  anxious  to  hear  what  he 


OE,   A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  348 

would  say.  But  presently  some  one  brought  a  report  to 
the  large  group  of  men  standing  in  the  open  space  in 
front  of  the  church  that  Mr.  Dox  was  ill  and  would  not 
be  able  to  officiate  at  all  that  day.  This  gave  those  who 
did  not  like  the  preacher's  conservative  course  in  regard 
to  war  matters  an  opportunity  to  nudge  one  another 
and  make  uncomplimentary  remarks  about  him. 

Of  these  was  Doctor  HeKer,  who  though  not  a  member 
of  the  church  was  what  in  the  Congregational  body  is 
called  a  member  of  the  society.  For  that  locality  he 
contributed  liberally  to  the  pastor 's  support  and  the 
current  expenses  of  the  church.  Indeed,  when  he  wi'ote 
"  #5  "  opposite  his  name  on  the  subscription  paper  which 
Deacon  Fettig  handed  him  shortly  after  he  settled  in 
Haltfest,  that  official  was  almost  startled,  for  in  those 
days  not  a  single  member  in  all  that  large  and  wealthy 
pastorate  paid  that  much  annually  for  the  support  of  the 
gospel.  So  the  doctor  was  allowed  considerable  freedom 
in  his  remarks,  the  more  that,  unlike  the  members  of  the 
society  among  Congregationalists,  he  had  no  vote  in  the 
affairs  of  the  church. 

"  So  Dox  isn't  coming,"  said  he.  ''  I  think  he  's  glad 
he  isn  't  well.  He  'd  have  been  ashamed  not  to  say  any- 
thing to  the  drafted  men  and  yet  have  been  afraid  to  do 
so  for  fear  of  offending  Vorsteher  *  Prantman  and  a  lot 
of  other  fellows.     I  'm  disgusted  with  old  Dox  !  " 

"  You  ought  to  be  more  charitable,"  remarked  Squire 
Zweisprmger  in  a  tone  of  remonstrance.      "  You  don't 

*  Deacon. 


344  ENEMIES    LN"   THE   REAR; 

know  what  he  might  have  done,  doctor.  He  did  well  at 
Fox's  funeral." 

"  The  less  a  preacher  says  about  these  things  the  better 
for  him  and  the  church,"  said  Frederick  Ruthvon  senten- 
tiously. 

"  But  how  can  he  do  his  duty  in  times  like  these  with- 
out alluding  to  national  affairs  when  members  go  to  war 
and  those  who  are  killed  must  be  buried  ?  "  asked  Heifer. 
"  I  tell  you,"  he  continued  with  great  animation,  "  it's 
no  Avonder  so  many  people  stand  off  from  the  church 
when  large  numbers  of  its  ministers  are  either  dumb 
dogs  in  the  pulpit  or  else  condone  wrongs  crying  to 
heaven  for  vengeance." 

"  But  with  all  that,"  answered  Ruthvon  warmly,"  a 
decent  hypocrite  in  the  church  is  far  preferable  to  an 
open-mouthed  unbeliever  out  of  it  even  if  the  latter  is  an 
Abolitionist." 

Doctor  Heifer  was  about  to  reply  in  a  manner  calcu- 
lated to  unfit  all  within  hearing  for  a  religious  service 
when  Vorsteher  Prantman  came  up  and  said  that  Mr. 
Dox  had  made  arrangements  to  have  the  Reverend 
William  Heimer  occupy  his  pulpit  this  morning  and 
that  the  substitute  would  be  here  in  a  few  moments. 

"•  Ho !  Avhat  '11  it  give  now  ? "  exclaimed  the  doctor. 
"  There  '11  be  fun  sure,"  Avith  Avhich  cheerfid  remark  he 
turned  and  entered  the  church  followed  by  all  the  rest. 

The  church  Avas  croAvded  Avith  people  in  every  part  — 
even  the  pulpit  stairs  and  those  leading  to  the  galleries, 
—  and  when  it  Avas  whispered  from  mouth  to  ear  that 


OE,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  345 

Heimer  would  preach  instead  of  the  pastor  expectation 
became  still  more  intensely  eager.  The  galleries  were 
occupied  exclusively  by  men,  who  according  to  custom 
all  kept  their  hats  on.  There  was  one  exception. 
Captain  Ruthvon  removed  his  hat  when  he  entered  the 
church,  just  as  he  had  done  for  some  years.  The  act  was 
noticed  and  commented  on  unfavorably,  as  it  had  been 
when  he  did  it  the  first  time. 

"  He  's  as  proud  and  stuck  up  as  ever,"  said  Ret  Prant- 
man  to  Sallie  Vonneida,  who  now  were  on  speaking 
terms  only  because  it  afforded  them  opportunity  to  nag 
each  other. 

"  He  's  sweet  as  sugar  and  nice  as  apple-pie,"  answered 
the  knowing  Sallie,  looking  at  Tom  Hartnagel  in  the 
east  gallery  and  in  her  description  having  him  in  mind 
more  than  the  captain. 

"  He  thinks  himself  above  us,  though  he 's  only  Penn- 
sylvania Dutch,  like  the  rest  of  us,"  retorted  Ret,  "  and 
he  must  show  himself  in  church  by  taking  off  his  hat 
before  the  minister  comes  in." 

"  And  he  still  goes  after  a  Yankee  girl  too,"  added 
Miss  Vonneida  in  a  real  cutting  way,  and  it  is  to  be 
feared  that  time  and  place  alone  saved  her  from  receiv- 
ing very  tangible  evidence  of  Margaret  Prantman's 
wrath. 

Conrad  Windkasten,  the  sexton,  who  also  had  charge 
of  the  organ  bellows,  was  in  his  place  and  looked  un- 
usually self-important.  He  did  not  indeed  furnish  the 
music  himself  but  let  all  men  take  note  that  without  him 


346  ENEMIES   IN  THE   EEAE  ; 

the  organist  could  not  furnisli  it  either.  Nathan  Geiger 
despised  the  humble  bellows-blower  but  the  latter  re- 
turned his  scorn  and  on  several  occasions  had  shown  him 
how  dependent  he  was  by  permitting,  as  if  by  accident, 
the  bellows  to  cease  working  for  a  moment  during  the 
singing,  to  the  unspeakable  delight  of  Sharp  Billy  and 
the  righteous  indignation  of  the  old  organist. 

Sharp  Billy,  who  attended  church  pretty  regularly, 
much  for  the  same  reason  that  a  newspaper  reporter 
attends  a  political  meeting,  sat  by  the  sexton,  and  not- 
withstanding the  assault  and  his  late  walk  on  the  pre- 
ceding evening,  was  wide  awake.  Sometimes  Wind- 
kasten  would  condescend  to  let  the  lad  pull  the  ropes, 
but  by  no  means  to-day  when  so  many  people  were 
present. 

The  Elders  and  Vorsteher  were  also  in  their  places, 
in  the  two  front  pews  on  the  right  of  the  pulpit,  with  a 
due  expression  of  dignity  on  their  faces.  Vorsteher 
Prantman  was  clearly  in  a  pleasant  mood,  even  though 
his  son  was  di-afted.  Evidently  he  anticipated  a  feast  of 
very  fat  things. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  drafted  men  from  Copton, 
Rattleton  and  Knocksdehudel  was  present.  They  did 
not  sit  together  in  a  body  but  were  scattered  among  the 
audience.  Some  of  them  looked  sad,  as  though  they 
might  be  worshiping  for  the  last  time  in  the  place 
hallowed  by  so  many  precious  memories.  Others  wore 
an  air  of  cheerfulness  that  lacked  genuineness  and  a  few 
seemed  like  men    whose   hand   is  against   every  man. 


OE,   A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUARED.  347 

Pete  Prantman,  who  sat  by  Andrew  Pfannkuchen,  had 
a  weary,  hunted  look  —  like  a  man  who,  confronted  by 
a  great  danger,  has  been  day  and  night  taxing  his  brain 
to  devise  a  plan  whereby  to  evade  it  and  has  failed.  He 
awaited  the  sermon  anxiously.  Perhaps  it  would  give 
him  a  clew. 

When  the  hour  for  beginning  the  services  arrived 
there  was  a  decrease  in  the  volume  of  sound  made  by 
the  whispered  conversations  and  all  eyes  were  frequently 
turned  toward  the  south  door,  though  which  the  minister 
and  the  organist  always  entered  together.  Suddenly  all 
was  hushed  and  every  hat  was  off  in  a  twinkling.  The 
preacher  of  the  day  and  Nathan  Geiger  were  coming  up 
the  aisle  side  by  side.  The  latter  ascended  to  the 
gallery  and  the  minister  walked  past  the  altar  and  under 
the  pulpit,  where  holding  his  hat  before  his  face,  he 
stood  for  a  moment  and  offered  a  silent  prayer. 

"  Now,"  whispered  Sharp  Billy  to  Windkasten  when 
the  preacher  laid  aside  his  hat,  "  it's  full  and  he's  going 
to  set  it  down  and  go  up  stairs,"  for  which  irreverent 
remark  the  bellows-blower  gave  him  a  look  that  would 
have  blighted  any  other  lad  but  merely  evoked  a  pleas- 
ant wink  from  the  Avitch's  boy. 

Having  divested  himseK  of  his  overcoat,  the  Reverend 
William  Heimer  ascended  the  spiral  stairway  and 
entered  the  pulpit.  This  eminence  reached,  he  looked  a 
moment  over  the  entire  audience,  after  which  he  opened 
the  Bible  at  the  place  of  the  lesson  for  the  day.  He 
was  the  pastor  of  a  church  m  the  township  of  Knocksde- 


348  ENEJVnES   LN"  THE   EEAH; 

hudel  but,  like  Mr.  Dox,  lived  in  Reading.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  medium  size,  heavily  built,  with  sharp, 
bluish  eyes,  thick  lips,  a  tawny,  freckled  complexion 
and  a  full,  clean-shaven  face.  His  toilet  was  very  care- 
fully made,  and  his  coat  and  neck-tie  were  faultless. 
He  had  about  him  an  air  of  dogmatism  and  authority 
that  would  have  graced  the  proudest  archbishop  in  the 
land  but  that  somehow  would  equally  well  have  become 
the  presence  of  the  potentate  of  a  gilded  lager-beer 
saloon.  He  moreover  possessed  a  most  exalted  opinion 
of  his  appearance  and  talents  and  was  the  very  personi- 
fication of  selfishness.     His  manner  distinctly  said  — 

"  I  am  Sir  Oracle, 
And  when  I  ope  my  lips  let  no  dog  bark!  " 

He  was  a  Pennsylvania  Dutchman  of  Pennsylvania 
Dutchmen,  with  all  their  immobility,  stubbornness  and 
prejudice  against  everything  pertaining  to  New  England. 
Personally  he  was  known  to  comparatively  few  in  the 
audience,  but  his  reputation  was  that  of  an  ardent 
sympathizer  with  the  South  in  its  efforts  to  overturn  the 
government.  Indeed  it  was  common  report  that  Philip 
Huber  had  had  the  gratification  of  initiating  him  as  a 
Knight  of  the  Golden  Circle,  and  no  one  had  ventured 
to  contradict  Doctor  Heifer  when  he  made  a  statement  to 
that  effect  one  night  at  Baltzer's  though  several  winked 
at  each  other  and  quietly  chuckled.  When  Heimer 
entered  the  pulpit  these  things  were  remembered,  and  as 
in  addition  to  all  this  he  was  physically  the  very  oppo- 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  349 

site  of  their  o^vii  quiet,  easy-going  minister,  and  a  stran- 
ger was  a  rarity  in  that  pulpit,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  in 
all  the  long  history  of  the  congregation  no  audience 
had  ever  gathered  here  so  attentive,  so  anxiously  eager, 
as  the  one  at  this  moment  before  the  Reverend  William 
Heimer. 

"  He  knov\^s  everything,  that  one  does,"  whispered  Ad 
Sparger  to  his  next  neighbor.  In  making  this  remark 
the  loafer  simply  voiced  what  was  then  the  common 
belief  among  the  more  ignorant  Pennsylvania  Germans 
and  is  held  by  many  of  them  until  this  day  —  that 
regularly  ordained  German  Reformed  and  Lutheran  min- 
isters are  aus(/eler7it,  that  is,  have  exhausted  the  fountain 
of  human  knowledge  and  '•'•  know  everything."  Certainly 
the  Reverend  William  Heimer  looked  conscious  enough 
to  be  rated  with'  this  class. 

The  public  religious  services  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Germans  are  commonly  conducted  in  pure  German. 
This  was  the  case  in  the  present  instance.  They  began 
with  an  invocation  after  which  a  hymn  was  announced. 
Then  the  minister,  standing,  lined  out  the  hymn.  One 
line  sung,  he  read  the  next.  Before  each  line  the 
organist  would  play  a  prelude  of  six  or  eight  notes 
leading  up  to  the  music  of  that  particular  line.  Th:^;i, 
being  also  the  Vorsinger,  or  precentor,  his  voice  would 
rise  loud  and  shrill.  He  sung  with  much  effort,  and 
on  the  higher  notes  his  face  grew  so  red  and  the  veins 
of  his  forehead  and  neck  stood  out  so,  that  one  was 
alarmed  for  his  safety.     But  in  the  eyes  of  this  simple 


350  EKEMEES   m   THE   REAR; 

folk  there  was  no  musician  in  all  the  country  round  like 
Nathan  Geiger.  Many  followed  his  lead  and  a  goodly 
volume  of  song,  making  up  in  earnestness  what  it  lacked 
in  harmony,  ascended. 

The  hymn  was  followed  by  the  lesson  and  a  "  free  " 
prayer.  The  latter  was  the  prelude  to  the  sermon. 
The  minister  besought  God  to  give  grace  to  all  to  bear 
persecution  for  conscience'  sake.  He  prayed  that  light 
might  be  given  to  those  who,  though  at  the  head  of  the 
government,  were  walking  in  thick  darkness  and  that 
the  cry  of  the  widow  and  the  orphan  might  soon  cease 
to  ascend  to  heaven.  This  prayer  had  at  least  two 
effects :  it  still  further  whetted  the  appetite  of  the  audi- 
ence, and  made  Vorsteher  Prantman  wink,  —  "  He'll 
give  it  to  them  once  !  " — to  Vorsteher  Fettig. 

A  second  hymn  was  sung  — 

"  Liebster  Jesu !  wir  sind  hier 
Dich  und  Dein  Wort  anzuhoeren," 

after  which  the  preacher  announced  his  text.  It  was 
Romans  13  : 1—3  :  — 

"Let  every  soul  be  subject  unto  tbe  higher  powers.  For  there  is 
no  power  but  of  G-od :  the  powers  that  be  are  ordained  of  God.  Who- 
soever therefore  resisteth  tlie  power,  resisteth  the  ordinance  of  God: 
and  they  that  resist  shall  receive  to  themselves  damnation.  For  rulers 
are  not  a  terror  to  good  works,  but  to  the  evil.  Wilt  thou  then  not 
be  afraid  of  the  power  ?  Do  that  which  is  good,  and  thou  shalt  have 
praise  of  the  same." 

"  These  are  days  of  sadness,"  he  began.  "  The  morn- 
ing, so  bright,  but  now  darkened  by  clouds,  is  a  type  of 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQIJAKED.  351 

the  joy  that  was,  and  of  the  sighs  and  tears  that  now 
are,  in  the  land." 

There  was  an  instant  response  on  the  faces  of  the 
audience,  and  Heimer  was  quick  to  perceive  it.  He 
went  on  with  greater  animation  :  "  Husbands  and  sons 
are  slain  in  the  South.  The  dark  cloud  has  moved 
north  until  now  it  hangs  over  us.  It  is  touching  and 
blighting  our  homes.  Our  dearest  ones  are  forced  to 
go  forth  to  the  war.  More  than  this  could  hardly  be 
demanded  of  them,  and  the  great  question  at  once  forces 
itself  upon  us,  namely,  whether  this  is  right :  or,  in  other 
words,  whether  the  power  which  exercises  such  fearful 
authority  is  of  God  ?  " 

He  then  laid  down  two  propositions  :  First,  that  while 
the  power  that  is,  is  ordained  of  God,  it  may  degenerate. 
Second,  that  when  it  so  degenerates  it  ceases  to  be  God's 
ordinance,  and  ought  to  be  destroyed.  These  proposi- 
tions he  discussed  at  length,  and  illustrated  them  from 
history  sacred  and  profane.  Having  done  this,  he  pro- 
ceeded cautiously  :  "  Our  government  was  ordained  of 
God.  Has  it  become  degenerate  and  ceased  to  be  the 
ordinance  of  God  ?  That  is,  has  it  ceased  to  be  a  terror 
to  evil-doers,  and  become  such  to  the  righteous  and  to 
all  good  citizens  ?  I  will  not  answer ;  I  need  not.  Let 
the  millions  of  treasure  wasted,  the  vast  section  robbed 
of  its  lawful  property,  the  thousands  slain  in  battle,  the 
cries  of  the  wounded,  the  tears  of  countless  widows 
and  orphans,  give  you  an  answer.  Let  the  corruption 
and  wickedness  which  are  fostered  by  and  stalk  boldly 


352  ENEMIES   IN  THE   REAR; 

through  the  land  without  rebuke  from  those  in  author- 
ity, reply.  Let  the  spies  and  informers  that  swarm  on 
every  side,  watching  peaceful  citizens  gathered  for  law- 
ful purposes,  bear  witness.  Even  every  word  I  am  now 
speaking  is  heard  by  those  who  will  faithfully  repeat  it 
to  their  masters." 

Many  eyes  were  all  at  once  turned  on  Captain  Ruth- 
von  in  the  east  gallery.  He  sat  like  a  statue,  but  kept 
his  gaze  steadily  upon  the  preacher. 

"  Is  God  then  seeking  the  overthrow  of  this  govern- 
ernment  ?  "  continued  Heimer.  "  He  may  possibly  be 
using  means  which  need  not  be  named,  but  are  manifest 
to  all  who  will  closely  observe." 

Vorsteher  Prantman  and  Fettig  winked  hard  at  each 
other. 

"  Under  all  the  circumstances  I  pity  you  in  this 
assemblage  who  are  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  numbered 
among  the  drafted.  You  are  required  to  fight  in  a  cause 
revolting  to  you  as  honest  men  who  believe  that  the 
rights  of  all  should  be  sacredly  guarded.  In  three  brief 
days  you  must  say  adieu  to  your  home  and  all  that  is 
dear  to  you  and  in  many  instances  it  will  no  doubt  be 
the  final  farewell.  Wives  will  weep  for  husbands ; 
widows,  fathers  and  mothers  lament  for  sons ;  little 
children  will  in  vain  stretch  out  their  tiny  arms  for  their 
papas  —  desolation  will  reign  supreme  in  your  homes, — 
and,  let  me  say  it  boldly,  all  because  of  the  wrong-doing 
of  the  powers  that  be." 

Pete    Prantman   said    "  Donnerwetter ! "    to    Pfann- 


OR,     A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  353 

kuchen,  Doctor  Heifer  ground  his  teeth  and  muttered 
"  Traitor  !  "  unter  dem  Bart^  while  Sharp  Billy  nudged 
Windkasten  and  said  "  he  could  soon  go  into  the  fortune- 
telling  business  on  his  own  account  so  far  as  that 
preacher  was  concerned  if  the  sermon  kept  on  awhile 
yet  and  Captain  Ruthvon's  eyes  didn't  give  out,"  for 
which  Windkasten  told  him  to  "  hold  his  mouth." 
Women  sobbed  and  the  facial  muscles  of  many  of  the 
men  twitched  suspiciously.  There  were  stern  faces  too 
and  a  vast  majority  of  the  great  audience  hung  approv- 
ingly on  the  orator's  words. 

At  this  impressive  juncture  in  his  discourse  Heimer 
paused  a  moment  to  note  the  impression  he  had  made. 

It  met  his  expectation  and  gave  him  mspiration  for  a 
grand  peroration.  The  silence  suddenly  became  almost 
painful,  for  the  next  words  were 'what  they  had  waited 
for.  Would  he  say  '"•  Do  not  report  for  duty  and  resist 
if  necessary  ?  " 

But  again  the  sublime  and  the  ridiculous  met.  Ad 
Sparger  before  coming  to  church  had  taken  several 
drinks  at  "  The  People's  Hotel  "  and  the  liquor  with 
the  impure  air  of  the  room  caused  him  to  go  to  sleep 
near  the  beginning  of  the  sermon.  Just  at  the  point 
referred  to  he  suddenly  roused  up,  stretched  himself  and 
in  shrill  tones  exclaimed  "  Are  you  a  Democrat  ?  "  In 
spite  of  the  solemnity  of  the  moment  the  younger  peo- 
ple tittered  but  were  quickly  hushed  by  the  stern  looks 
of  the  preacher.  Vorsteher  Fettig  rose  up  as  if  to  put 
out  the  disturber  but  Heimer  stopped  him. 


354  ENE]\nES   IN  THE   REAB; 

"  Let  him  alone,"  said  he.  "  He  was  dreaming  and  is 
not  responsible.     Treat  him  kindly." 

After  his  irrelevant  question  Sparger  was  still  but 
half  awake  and  put  his  head  down  behind  the  back  of 
the  pew  in  front.  The  speaker's  unfortunate  use  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  word  treat  confused  his  faculties 
vitterly ;  his  favorite  expression  came  to  his  tongue 
instinctively,  and  raising  his  head  he  said  with  clear  but 
rapid  utterance,  "  Let's  drink  one  !  "  Those  who  were 
not  angry  could  not  repress  their  mirth  entirely,  but 
Prantman  and  Fettig  were  in  the  gallery  in  a  moment 
and  led  Ad  out  of  the  church.  They  looked  very  virtu- 
ous when  they  resumed  their  places  and  probably  never 
gave  a  single  thought  to  their  sacrilegious  conduct  of  a 
year  ago  whereby  they  had  encouraged  this  poor  wretch 
in  his  sad  career.  Heinier  remained  standing  and  when 
all  was  once  more  quiet  began  his  peroration. 

"  When  I  remember  these  things,  and  when  I  reflect 
on  the  blood  that  must  yet  be  shed  in  order  that  unholy 
ambition  may  be  gratified,  I  for  my  part,  whatever 
others  may  do,  blame  no  man  who  may  desert  from 
the  army,  though  I  do  not  tell  him  to  do  so.  I  can 
despise  no  man  who  will  give  food  and  shelter  to  such 
an  one,  and  I  refuse  to  censure  any  person  who,  bemg 
drafted,  fails  to  report  for  duty,  even  though  I  do  not 
counsel  him  in  this  matter. —  The  dear  Lord  God  have 
us  all  in  His  holy  keeping.     Amen." 

There  was  a  sense  of  relief  when  the  last  word  fell 
'from  the  minister's  lips  and  the  closing  exercises  received 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUAEED.  355 

scant  attention.  The  KlingeUaeck^  or  jingle-bags,  were 
thrust  before  each  worshiper  as  usual  by  the  Vorsteher 
during  the  last  hymn  but  only  a  few  coins  were  di'opped 
into  them  and  by  the  neglect  of  the  bellows-blower  the 
organ  suddenly  ceased  to  play  and  the  voice  of  Nathan 
Geiger  soimded  forth  alone,  but  only  Sharp  Billy  seemed 
to  enjoy  the  mishap.  The  people  were  preoccupied.  Men 
scanned  each  other's  faces  with  an  air  of  inquiry,  or 
nodded  approval,  as  the  case  might  be,  but  no  sooner 
was  the  benediction  pronounced  than  the  sound  of  con- 
versation was  heard  all  over  the  church.  Vorsteher 
Prantman  and  Fettig  met  Heimer  as  he  came  down 
from  his  lofty  perch  and  warmly  congratulated  him. 

"  That  was  once  a  bully  sermon,  clean  down,"  said  the 
former.  "  You  did  give  it  to  the  black  ones  right.  I 
don't  believe  my  Pete  will  go  now  anyhow." 

A  large  throng  of  men  and  women  came  up  to  the 
preacher  and  thanked  him  for  his  sermon. 

"  Yes  indeed,"  said  Prantman  ofl&ciously,  "  he's  the 
man  for  my  money,  you  people." 

The  Reverend  WiUiam  Heimer's  vanity  was  highly 
gratified  by  these  expressions  of  approval  but  somehow 
he  seemed  anxious  to  get  away.  On  the  plea  that  he 
had  another  appointment  to  fill  later  in  the  day  lie  hur- 
ried out  of  the  church  and  drove  off.  He  evidently 
feared  that  some  of  the  drafted  men  might  ask  questions 
he  would  rather  leave  unanswered. 

When  Doctor  Heifer  came  down  the  gallery  stairs 
Prantman  accosted  him. 


356  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR; 

"  Well,  Doctor,  what  do  you  think  of  that  sermon 
once  ?  "  queried  he. 

"  It  was  from  beginning  to  end  a  plea  for  rebellion, 
deserters  and  men  who  refuse  to  report  when  drafted," 
answered  Heifer  hotly.  "  One  more  like  that'll  shut 
Heimer  up." 

"  Who'll  shut  him  up  ?  "  asked  Hans  much  excited. 

"  Ho !  that's  none  of  my  business,  but  maybe  it's 
somebody  else's,"  and  the  doctor  left  the  church  before 
Prantman  could  rejoin. 

"  He  means  that  Ruthvon  dog,"  said  Jake  Zellon  who 
heard  the  latter  part  of  this  conversation  as  he  came 
down  the  steps,  "  but  that  there  spy  had  better  look  out, 
for  the  bullet  is  moulded  that'll  settle  him." 

"  Hush  !  don't  you  see  the  witch's  boy  behind  you  ?  " 
said  Prantman  in  a  whisper.  Zellon  said  nothing  more 
but  looked  as  if  a  second  bullet  were  moulded. 

Pete  Prantman,  James  Fetzer  and  Andrew  Pfann- 
kuchen  walked  down  the  road  together.  The  clouds 
were  heavy  and  rain  began  to  fall.  Pete's  face  still 
wore  the  weary,  hunted  look  and  it  was  evident  the  ser- 
mon had  failed  to  solve  his  difficulty. 

"  Why  didn't  Heimer  come  out  plainer  and  tell  us 
what  to  do  ?  "  said  he  to  his  companions. 

He  came  out  as  plain  as  he  dared  with  Ruthvon  and 
Hartnagel  watching  him,"  Fetzer  replied  ;  "  and  I  think 
he  woukhi't  have  said  he  wouldn't  blame  us  if  we  didn't 
report,  if  he  Avasn't  sure  nothing  wouldn't  be  done  to  us 
if  we  just  would  keep  out  of  the  way  awhile.     Any- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  357 

how  Tin  not  going  to  report,"  and  he  began  to 
whistle. 

"  Jim,  don't  you  know  this  is  Sunday,  you  pig  ?  "  said 
Pete  angrily. 

"  I  forgot,"  replied  James,  starting,  "  But  you  fellows 
who  go  next  Wednesday  will  get  caught  nice  on  that 
getting-five-or-ten-days-more  business." 

"  Donner  —  I  mean  —  this  is  Sunday  —  do  you  mean 
so,  Jim  ?  "  said  Pete  now  more  excited  than  ever.  The 
very  thought  of  the  scenes  of  the  present  week  made  him 
shudder.  At  this  point  Zellon  overtook  them  and  the 
question  was  submitted  to  him. 

"  Nix  !  "  he  exclaimed  contemptuously.  "  That's  only 
a  trick  to  get  them  all  to  come.  Huber  don't  know 
everything.  When  they  get  them  once  they  won't  let 
them  go  again,  lean  on  that." 

"  Not  handy,"  chimed  in  Andrew,  who  was  not 
drafted  and  felt  good. 

"  If  you  don't  get  oif,"  added  Jake,  "  then  you  must 
rmi  away  and  that's  far  more  dangerous  than  staying 
away,  for  then  you've  took  the  oath." 

"  Don  —  this  is  Sunday  —  I  think  do  you  mean  so  ?  " 
said  Pete. 

"  If  you  don't  believe  it,  go  once  next  Wednesday,  you 
dumb-head,  and  you'll  find  out,  forget  it  not,"  was  Jake's 
consoling  reply,  and  the  look  on  Pete's  face  was  more 
clearly  defined  than  ever. 

"  You  won't  go  then  ?  "  Pfannkuchen  asked  Zellon. 

"  Go  nix  !  "  the  latter  replied.      "  And  I  think  if  you 


358  ENElSnES    li^   THE   REAR. 

don't  go  with,  us  Jim  here  and  me'll  have  to  make  that 
visit  to  the  Yankee's  house  alone  next  Saturday  night." 
That  same  evening  after  dark  Squire  Zweispringer's 
kitchen  door  was  suddenly  opened  by  an  unseen  hand 
and  a  note  was  thrown  into  the  apartment.  The  note 
was  addressed  to  Captain  Ruthvon.  Going  to  his  room, 
he  read  as  follows  :  — 

"To  Captain  Ruthvon: 

Beware  of  Jake  Zellon.     He's  been  heard  to  say  to-day  that  your 
bullet  is  moulded. 

A  Fkiend." 

The  captain  kept  his  own  counsel,  save  as  to  Tom 
Hartnagel,  whom  he  trusted  implicitly  in  these  matters. 

Reports  of  the  Reverend  William  Heimer's  sermon 
reached  the  authorities  at  Reading  during  the  week,  but 
the  latter,  instructed  from  Washington,  took  no  notice 
of  his  utterances. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

THE    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    LOSES    A   MEIMBER. 

The  dreaded  day  came  quickly  and  on  Wednesday 
morning,  October  22nd,  the  depot  at  Haltfest  was  full 
of  drafted  people  and  their  friends  waiting  for  the  Read- 
ing train.  Doctor  Heifer  and  Squire  Zweispringer  had 
a  friendly  word  for  each  one  and  promised  a  number  of 
men  that  their  families  should  not  want  during  their 
absence  in  the  army.  James  Fetzer  and  Jake  Zellon 
were  not  present  but  Pete  Prantman  was.  The  weary, 
hunted  look  was  gone  ;  so  also  Avas  his  right  hand  index 
finger  !  When  asked  about  his  bandaged  hand  he  ex- 
plained that  on  the  previous  Monday  night  while  cutting 
rye  straw  for  feed  he  had  accidentally  cut  off  a  finger  and 
that  Doctor  Knochenschneider  of  Schnarraffelsschteddel 
had  dressed  the  wound.  That  Pete  had  purposely 
maimed  himseK  in  order  to  escape  military  duty  need 
not  be  questioned  and  he  was  but  one  of  many  who  did 
the  same  thing  or  similar  things  about  that  time. 

Penn  street,  Reading,  was  filled  with  country  people. 
Notwithstanding  the  boasting  and  threats  they  had  in- 
dulged in,  nearly  all  of  the  drafted  men  reported  for 
examination  and  enrollment.  From  all  parts  of  the 
country  they  flocked  to  the  headquarters  of  the  Com 
missioner  of  Draft.     Some  brought  with  them  blankets. 


360  ENEMIES   IN    THE   EEAE, ; 

comforters,  boxes  of  fruit,  preserves  and  other  things 
from  home,  expecting  at  once  to  go  into  winter  quarters 
and  hoping  in  this  way  to  make  themselves  more  com- 
fortable. All  who  could  not  pass  Doctor  John  Grebs- 
gong  Goettman's  examination,  or  were  otherwise  incom- 
petent to  render  military  service,  together  with  those 
whose  names  remained  on  the  roll  after  the  quotas  were 
filled,  were  discharged.  Those  held  for  duty  were 
sworn  into  the  service  and  f urloughed  for  five  days,  and 
all  once  more  turned  their  faces  toward  home. 

The  lodge-meeting  on  Friday  night  in  the  great  room 
of  Mike  Hahn  's  house  was  largely  attended.  The  sharp 
ear  of  Lovma  Hartnagel  was  again  at  the  knot  hole  in 
the  floor  above  and  heard  all  the  proceedings.  Philip 
Huber,  who  in  the  past  few  days  had  risen  greatly  in  the 
confidence  of  the  Knights,  himself  presided.  The  ques- 
tion to  be  considered  was  whether  the  drafted  Knights 
should  return  to  duty  at  the  end  of  their  furlough  or 
remain  at  home  and  take  chances  in  flight  or  resistance 
if  sent  for. 

"  We  want  to  keep  off  suspicion  and  gain  all  the  time 
we  can,"  said  Huber.  "  I  advise  the  drafted  Knights  to 
report  next  week,  for  they  '11  get  at  least  five  days  more." 

"Are  you  sure  of  that?"  asked  Fritz  Kleinkammef, 
who  was  now  a  married  man  of  three  days'  standing. 

"I  have  it  on  good  authority  —  no  matter  how," 
answered  Huber.  "  Meanwhile  the  arms  will  be  here 
and  if  necessary  we  can  use  them.  But  I  don't  believe 
you  need  ever  put  on  the  Lmcoln  collar,  for  inside  of  a 


OR,   A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUARED,  361 

week  there  will  probably  be  news  from  the  West  that 
will  make  old  Abe  and  his  cabinet,  and  Curtin  and 
Hautnehmer  glad  to  let  all  drafted  men  go  where  they 
like." 

Pete  Prantman  began  to  feel  very  sorry  for  his  index 
finger. 

At  this  point  Christian  Mehlhuber,  covered  with  the 
marks  of  his  calling,  slowly  arose  and  said  he  had  some- 
thing to  communicate.  The  miller  was  about  forty-five 
years  old,  quite  stout,  slow  in  motion  and  slower  in 
speech,  phlegmatic  to  a  degree.  He  very  seldom  said  a 
word  in  the  meetings,  and  as  he  seemed  considerably 
excited,  all  eyes  were  at  once  turned  upon  him, 

"  I  didn't  speak  of  this  here  thing  to  any  one  before 
to-night,  "  he  began  very  deliberately,  "  for  fear  some 
one  might  hear  that  oughtn't  to  hear,  or  some  one  " — • 
looking  at  Zellon  —  "  might  do  something  ugly  and  spoil 
everything." 

"  That  was  all  right,  Mehlhuber,  though  you  might 
have  told  me  safely,"  said  the  presiding  officer  reproach- 
fuUy. 

"  Maybe  so,  but  well  I  think  not,"  replied  the  miller 
stubbornly.  "  I  'm  sure  I  was  right,  for  you  know  that 
birds  of  the  "— 

"•  Never  mind  the  birds,  tell  us  what  you've  got  to 
say,"  cried  several  voices  impatiently. — 

— "air  sometimes  carry  matters,  the  Bible  says,"  Chris- 
tian continued,  raising  his  bushy  eyebrows  but  not  his 
voice  and  speaking  a  trifle  slower,     "  Jake  there  hasn  't 


362  ENEMIES   IN   THE    REAR; 

been  helping  me  much  in  the  mill  this  week.  He  and 
Fetzer  has  been  up  the  creek  in  the  Crow  Hollow  most  of 
the  time,  coming  to  the  house  only  at  eating-time,  which 
is  right  so,  as  the  Lincoln  fellows  might  get  " — 

"  Sapperlotte  once  more  !"  interrupted  Zellon  im- 
patiently, "  can  't  you  tell  us  what  it  is,  you  pig  you  ?  " 

"  Order  !  "  said  Huber. 

—  "them  else,"  the  miller  went  on  as  soon  as  the  in- 
terruption ceased.  "  And  so  yesterday  when  I  was  in 
the  mill  alone  by  myself  and  was  just  pouring  Brett- 
schneider  's  oats  into  the  hopper  and  taking  out  the  toll, 
in"  — 

"•  To  the  devil  with  the  toll.  You  took  enough,  sure," 
said  Fetzer. 

"  It 's  against  rule  16  to  interrupt  a  member  so,"  said 
Huber  sternly.  — 

"  came  young  Ruthvon  and  that  black  Hartnagel  "  — 
here  the  female  ear  in  the  room  above  suddenly  be- 
came very  acute  — "  and  Hartnagel  asked  the  price 
of  Lincoln  coffee,  and  other  things,  and  Charlie  said 
it  was  so  long  since  he  had  been  in  the  old  mill,  if 
I  didn  't  care  he  'd  look  around  the  mill  once  a  little  so 
as  not  to  hinder  our  talk,  and  after  a  little  I  went  down 
stairs  to  set  the  mill-stones  correct,  and  saw  Ruthvon 
come  out  of  the  wheel  " — 

"Holy  cross!  it's  good  I  wasn't  there,"  cried  Zellon 
fiercely. 

Huber  again  rapped  for  order  and  declared  he  must 
impose  a  fine  if  there  were  any  more  interruptions. 


OR,   A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  363 

— "room,  which  he  said  reminded  him  of  when  he 
used  to  fish  for  roach  in  the  tail-race  arch  when  he  was 
a  little  boy,"  resumed  the  dusty  miller,  if  possible  more 
deliberately  than  ever.  "  He  was  so  pleasant,  and  asked 
me  whether  I  still  drew  the  gun-barrels  from  Reading 
for  the  bore-mill,  and  said  the  bore-mill  must  pay  big 
now,  as  there  was  such  demand  for  guns  all  over  in  these 
war  times.  He  looked  sharp  at  me  too,  and  when  we 
did  come  up  stairs  Hartnagel  was  coming  from  the 
upper  story  and  he  said  the  smut-machine  and  chaff- 
chambers  looked  as  natural  as  ever. —  Now,"  suddenly 
raising  his  voice  and  striking  his  broad  chest  a  hard 
blow  with  his  fist,  "•  somebody  has  been  talking  once  out, 
and  no  guns  is  going  'to  my  mill  even  if  there  is  other 
mills  in  the  county !  "  He  looked  defiantly  at  Prant- 
man,  senior,  and  sat  down  heavily  enough  to  shake  the 
floor. 

There  were  a  number  of  pale  faces  in  the  lodge  when 
the  miller  ended,  and  whispering  and  glancing  from  one 
to  another.  Some  one  had  proved  false  and  speedy 
arrest  of  every  one  might  follow.  Who  was  the  traitor  ? 
Of  spies  and  eavesdroppers  they  did  not  think  at  that 
time.  Philij)  Huber  was  much  agitated.  He  had  be- 
lieved that  a  show  of  arms  on  the  part  of  a  large  number 
of  men  would  really  frighten  the  government  and  cause 
it  to  dismiss  all  drafted  men,  and  now  such  a  show  in 
Copton  township  at  least  seemed  impossible. 

"•  Our  proceedings  here  tAvo  weeks  ago  and  those  at 
Baltzer's  hall  last  Saturday  night,"  he  said  after  medi- 


364  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE ; 

tating  a  few  moments,  "  liave  at  least  in  part  become 
known  outside  the  Circle.  I  am  very  sorry  for  Kniglit 
Ruthvon,  yet  I  must  say  that  his  son  showed  more  feel- 
ing for  him  than  Abolitionists  usually  show  for  anybody 
except  niggers.  He  did  not  Avish  to  see  his  father  in 
trouble  with  the  government  and  believed  that  if  we 
knew  it  was  aware  of  our  designs,  we  would  desist. 
This  I  think  made  him  speak  to  Knight  Mehlhuber  as 
he  did." 

"  I  think  you're  wrong,"  said  Hans  Prantman.  Fred- 
erick Ruthvon  did  not  stir.  He  sat  with  downcast  face. 
"Maybe  I  am,"  said  Huber.  '^  But  shall  we  be 
frightened  and  give  up?  That  is  the  point.  I  say 
never.  Meanwhile  who  is  the  traitor  ? "  he  cried,  his 
face  swollen  with  anger.  "  Is  it  possible  "  —  changing 
to  his  solemn  tone  —  ''  that  any  Knight  could  be  vile 
enough  to  break  his  solemn  oath  ?  " 

"  Certainly,"  said  Prantman,  senior. 

"  This  is  a  very  serious  matter  and  must  be  investi- 
gated," continued  Huber  not  noticing  the  interruption. 
"It  is  every  one's  duty  to  help  the  Circle  by  his  counsel 
and  by  imparting  any  knowledge  he  may  possess.  I 
take  it  for  granted  that  all  absentees  were  informed  of 
the  nature  of  the  proceedings  at  the  last  two  meetings." 

Several  members  replied  that  tJiey  had  been.  Hans 
Prantman  then  got  up  and  his  small  pig-eyes  twinkled 
as  if  he  were  about  to  say  something  that  pleased  him 
greatly.  "  I  don't  know  who  told  on  us,"  said  he,  "■  but  I 
could  make  a  guess  at  it.     If  we  see  one  of  our  members 


OR,    A    GOLDEN"    CIRCLE   SQUARED.  365 

go  a  great  deal  with  black  ones  and  have  them  come  to 
his  house  too,  then  I'll  get  the  plagues  if  it  doesn't  look 
suspicious  once  a  little  !  My  mother  used  to  say  if  a 
white  sheep  went  among  black  ones,  it  would  get  black 
too  after  awhile."  When  he  sat  down  nearly  every  eye 
was  on  Frederick  Ruthvon.  Up  to  this  point  the  latter 
continued  to  sit  with  his  eyes  on  the  floor,  but  he  now 
quickly  rose  to  his  feet.     As  usual  he  spoke  calmly. 

'•'•  Is  there  any  man  who  accuses  me  of  treachery  to 
this  lodge  ?  "  he  asked  looking  around  and  waiting  for  a 
reply.     No  one  ventured  to  bring  so  grave  a  charge. 

"  If  there  is  such  an  accusation  made,  I  am  here  to 
meet  it,"  he  said. 

"  None  is  proved,"  said  Hans  Prantman  with  a  sneer. 

"  And  none  is  yet  made,  Prantman,"  replied  Ruthvon 
sternly. 

"  But  it  looks  suspicious  that " began  the  other 

again. 

"  You  bring  your  charge  against  me  or  else  be  still," 
said  Ruthvon  in  a  manner  as  expressive  as  his  words. 
"  I  insist.  Knight  Huber,  that  he  does  one  or  the  other." 

"  That's  according  to  rule,"  replied  the  chairman. 

"  I  ask  again,  is  there  any  one  who  charges  me  here 
with  violating  my  oath  ?  "  said  Ruthvon  louder  than  be- 
fore.    There  was  no  response. 

"  No  charge  being  made  against  me,"  he  went  on,  "  I 
need  say  no  more,  but  I  feel  that  after  what  has  been 
said  I  must  speak  in  my  own  defence.  —  Charles  Ruth- 
von is  not  my  son.     I  disowned  him  because  he  went 


866  ENEMIES   IN   THE   HEAR; 

contrary  to  tlie  political  principles  I  got  from  my 
father,  and  that  ought  to  be  enough  to  refute  the  false 
Avords  spoken  by  my  neighbor.  But  I  did  say  and  do 
some  things  that  may  have  seemed  suspicious  to  such  as 
were  watching  me.  I  did  talk  indignant  when  Yankee 
Chetwynde's  barn  was  set  on  fire,  and  also  when  my 
horse  was  shot  in  SchlapphammeFs  woods  with  no 
regard  for  the  life  of  an  innocent  girl  Avho  was  supposed 
to  be  in  the  carriage,  and  I  wish  in  each  case  the  villains 
had  been  discovered  and  punished  to  the  full  extent  of 
the  law." 

"  But  they  wasn't,"  said  Jake  Zellon  with  an  air  of 
triumph. 

"  They  're  living  yet,"  retorted  Mr.  Ruth  von,  "  and  will 
still  get  their  dues." 

"  Who  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  Zellon  starting  from 
his  seat  on  the  bench. 

"Make  him  be  still,  Huber,  till  I  am  done,"  de- 
manded Ruthvon. 

"  That's  what  I  say,  by  my  sex,"  added  Kleinkammer. 

"  Kleinkammer  is  getting  black  too,"  said  Pete  Prant- 
man  spitefully, 

"  So  is  your  finger,"  replied  Fritz. 

"  Order !  "  shouted  Huber  while  Pete  and  Fritz  looked 
daggers  at  each  other. 

"  Then,  too,  I  was  not  present  at  the  last  two  meet- 
ings," Ruthvon  resumed.  "It  was  because  I  couldn't 
go,  and  Hans  Prantman  there  himself  gave  me  an  ac- 
count of  the  proceedings  of  both  meetings.     And  I  find 


OK,    A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  367 

that  it  is  regarded  as  suspicious  that  I  am  very 
friendly  with  Tom  Hartnagel,  and  that  he  comes  to 
my  house.  May  my  heart  wither  when  I  cease  to  be 
friendly  toward  the  man  who  saved  my  life  !  And  I 
don't  want  the  friendship  of  any  man  who  would  ask  me 
te  shut  my  door  in  Tom  Hartnagel's  face.  Then  I  am 
not  sure  either  that  the  gathering  of  arms  is  right  when  I 
know  that  some  of  them  will  be  used  to  avenge  private 
grudges.  Anyhow,  Philip  Huber,  I  can't  and  won't 
approve  of  such  things  as  will  be  done  to-morrow  night, 
let  me  say  at  your  instigation." 

'^  Bah  !  go  away  once,"  sneered  Zellon. 

"  He's  getting  too  good  for  us,"  Pete  Prantman 
chimed  in. 

"  I  have  good  ground  for  believing  too,"  said  Ruth- 
von  not  heeding  these  remarks,  "  that  my  property  and 
perhaps  my  life  are  in  danger  from  members  of  this 
lodge." 

"  Be  careful,  Ruthvon,  what  you  say,"  exclaimed 
Huber. 

"  I  am,"  replied  Ruthvon,  "  and  I  will  now  do  what  I 
would  have  done  anvhow  to-night  even  if  nothinar  unusual 
had  occurred,  bnt  which  I  couldn't  do  so  long  as  sus- 
picion rested  on  me,  or  I  supposed  any  member  wished 
to  bring  a  charge  against  me." 

There  was  perfect  silence  in  the  lodge. 

''  Is  there  any  form  by  which  a  member  can  be  dis- 
missed from  the  Circle  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  None,"    answered    Huber    in    surprise.       "  All    are 


368  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR; 

sworn  for  life  and  the  recognition  sign  is  their  certificate 
when  they  travel.    But  who  wants  to  leave  the  Circle  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  said  Ruthvon  firmly. 

Shouts  of  ^^  Traitor,"  and  hisses  greeted  these  words. 

"Didn't  I  tell  you,  huh?"  said  Hans  Prantman  tri- 
umphantly. 

"  I  do,"  repeated  Ruthvon,  "  and  dismission  or  none, 
I've  met  with  the  Circle  for  the  last  time  to-night,"  and 
all  the  earth  could  not  have  shaken  his  determination,  for 
the  concentrated  firmness,  stubbornness  and  energy  of 
generations  of  Ruthvons  were  now  aroused  in  him.  "Re- 
member," he  continued  as  Huber  was  about  to  interrupt 
him,  "  I  don't  propose  to  violate  my  oath  by  revealing 
the  secrets  of  the  order,  unless  it  were  before  a  magis- 
trate when  legally  called  upon.  My  political  principles 
I  inherited  from  my  fathers  and  not  from  the  Circle,  and 
they  remain  the  same  as  ever,  but  I  cannot  maintain  my 
self-respect  and  at  the  same  time  remain  associated  on 
intimate  terms  with  men  like  Pete  Prantman,  Andrew 
Pfannkuchen  and  Jake  Zellon." 

Instantly  all  was  confusion.  Zellon  made  a  spring  for 
Ruthvon  but  Huber,  Kleinkammer  and  others  rushed 
between  them  and  forced  Zellon  back  into  his  seat. 
Huber  begged  all  to  remember  how  much  was  at  stake, 
and  be  quiet.  In  the  struggle  the  secretary's  table  was 
upset  and  the  crash  made  such  a  noise  that  Lovina 
Hartnagel  recollected  herself  just  in  time  to  suppress  a 
scream,  but  rose  up  from  the  bare  floor  far  more  noisily 
than  would  have  been  safe  had  all  been  still.     A  shrill 


OR,    A    GOLDEiSr    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  369 

female  voice  was  heard  iii  the  entry  below  expostula- 
ting with  the  guard  at  the  door. 

"  Thou  beloved  ground !  what  is  wrong  in  heaven  ? 
Let  me  in,  let  me  m,  something  is  wrong  sure  with 
Mike,"  cried  Mrs.  Hahn.  Mike  himself  went  to  the 
door  and  assured  his  spouse  that  all  was  well,  upon 
which  she  went  away  muttering  that  this  war  business 
was  "enough  to  make  one's  head  white." 

Frederick  Ruthvon  did  not  move  during  the  uproar. 
When  a  degree  of  order  had  been  restored  by  the  chair- 
man he  said:  "And  now  let  no  man  stop  my  way,"  and 
walked  toward  the  door. 

"  Shoot  the  traitor  !  "  shouted  Zellon  starting  after 
him.  Hisses  and  curses  again  filled  the  room.  Huber 
saw  the  stern  determination  of  Mr.  Ruthvon,  and 
that  an  attempt  to  detain  him  by  force  or  to  permit 
personal  violence  to  be  done  him  would  be  exceedingly 
unwise. 

"  Remember  your  oath,  Ruthvon,"  he  cried,  stepping 
in  front  of  Zellon.  "  Open  the  door  and  let  him  go." 
In  obedience  to  this  order  the  door  opened,  Frederick 
Ruthvon  passed  through  and  the  Golden  Circle  had  lost 
one  of  its  members  forever. 

Philip  Huber  did  not  believe  Ruthvon  to  be  the 
traitor.  He  knew  the  man's  character  too  well.  And 
of  course  Huber  was  right.  The  reader  knows  how  the 
proceedings  of  October  11th,  became  known  to  the  out- 
side world,  and  he  remembers  also  that  on  the  evening 
of   the  previous  Saturday  Captain   Ruthvon  and     Tom 


370  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR; 

Hartnagel  were  seen  in  close  consultation  in  front  of 
Fettig's  grocery.  These  liad  no  chance  of  getting  nearer 
the  lodge  than  the  bar-room  that  evening,  but  they 
nevertheless  accomplished  their  purpose  of  finding  out 
what  the  conspirators  were  doing.  Tom  Hartnagel  had 
not  acted  the  spy  in  vain.  He  remembered  the  name 
and  face  of  Hi  Wambsgans,  a  very  stupid  young  fellow 
from  Knocksdehudel  township,  a  member  of  Haltfest 
lodge.  Tom  had  seen  him  in  the  village  in  the  even- 
ing and  observed  that  he  put  his  horse  in  the  sheds 
of  the  lower  hotel.  Accordingly,  after  ten  o'clock, 
the  ex-soldier  went  down  and  loitered  around  there  m 
the  dark.  Some  time  passed  and  then  Wambsgans 
rushed  into  the  shed  in  breathless  haste  and  began  to 
untie  his  horse.  Tom  quietly  approached  him  and  in  a 
low  tone  said  "  R.  D." 

"  H.  O.  "  came  the  prompt  response. 

"Do  you  know  anything  about  the  grip  ?  "  asked 
Tom. 

"I  think  I  do,  but  it's  bad  dark  and  them  ugly  soldiers 
is  after  us."  He  gave  Tom  the  grip.  The  latter  as 
sured  him  there  was  no  danger  and  by  a  little  adroit 
questioning,  without  awakening  the  shadow  of  a  suspicion, 
drew  from  the  silly  Knight  the  substance  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  meeting  and  a  hasty  account  of  the  visit  of 
the  soldiers,  and  during  all  the  stormy  scenes  of  the 
session  still  in  progress  not  a  thought  of  his  interview 
with  the  stranger  under  the  sheds  entered  Wambsgans' 
dull  brain.  But  nothing  of  this  was  known  to  the  Circle 


OR,   A   GOLDEN"   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  371 

and  hence  when  the  door  closed  behuid  Frederick  Ruth- 
von  there  was  much  perplexity.  With  Huber,  the 
more  thoughtful  members  believed  him  innocent.  What- 
ever they  might  think  of  the  reasons  he  had  given  for 
withdraAving  from  the  lodge,  his  well  known  love  of 
truth  and  his  course  toward  his  son  weighed  strongly  in 
his  favor  with  them. 

The  serious  fact  remained  that  some  one  had  proved 
false  to  his  oath.  There  was  no  means  of  discovering 
the  traitor  at  present.  The  leader  could  only  exhort  all 
the  members  to  faithfulness  and  prudence. 

"  Of  course  the  arms  cannot  now  be  stored  in  the 
mill,"  said  he,  "  but "  ^ 

"  I'm  sure  they  can't,  even  if  there  is  other  mills  in 
the  county,"  interrupted  Mehlhuber,  who  after  finish- 
ing his  speech  had  never  once  risen  or  uttered  a  word 
during  all  the  excitement  except  that  when  Andrew 
Pfannkuchen  had  trod  hard  on  his  toes  he  exclaimed 
"  O  heaven  !  " 

"  All  right,"  said  Huber  impatiently.  "  The  boxes 
will  be  stopped-  at  Reading.  We'll  meet  here  again  a 
week  from  to-morrow  night.  It's  safer  than  Baltzer's 
hall.  You  drafted  men  will  get  a  furlough.  Look  out 
for  good  news  !  " 

"  And  all  of  you  who  want  a  good  night-supper  and 
cider  don't  forget  the  visit  to  Yankee  Chetwynde's  house 
to-morrow  night,"  said  Jake  Zellon.  "We'll  go  in  spite 
of  that  old  Ruthvon  bugger,  and  we'll  meet  at  the  big 
chestnut  tree  in  Prantman's  lane  at  7  o'clock." 


372  ENElVnES   IN   THE   REAR. 

"  And  be  sure  to  make  the  visit  a  friendly  one,  as  I 
told  you  before,"  added  Huber.  "  I'd  like  to  go  with 
you,  but  I  have  an  engagement." 

And  so  the  lodge  adjourned. 

When  Frederick  Ruthvon  reached  home  he  said  to 
his  wife,  who  was  waiting  for  him  :  —  "•  Maria,  I've  been 
to  the  lodge  for  the  last  time.  I'm  a  Knight  of  the 
Golden  Circle  no  more."  He  vouchsafed  nothing  more, 
and  knowing  his  mood  she  only  said,  "  So  ? "  and 
thanked  God  in  secret. 

The  next  morning,  being  Saturday,  Lovina  Hartnagel 
as  usual  took  the  week's  butter  and  eggs  to  Fettig's 
grocery.  By  previous  arrangement  she  met  her  brother 
Tom  on  the  way.  In  her  communication  to  him  she  laid 
far  more  stress  on  the  contemplated'  "  visit  "  to  Chet- 
wynde's  than  on  Ruthvon's  defection  from  Golden  Cir- 
cleism,  though  she  admitted  that  she  could  hardly  re- 
strain herself  from  applauding  when  Ruthvon  left  the 
room. 

"  You  tell  Chetw}mde,  and  be  on  hand  yourself,"  she 
said  earnestly.  "  And,  Tom,  I'm  so  stiff  I  can  hardly 
walk  from  watching  so  long  in  one  position,  and  my  ear 
sings,  but  I'd  do  it  again  to-night  if  it  was  necessary  to 
defeat  them  rebels." 

After  again  calling  his  sister  "A  bully  girl,"  Tom 
bade  her  good-bye,  and,  avoiding  the  village,  returned  to 
Jabez  Chetwynde's. 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

A    "  FEIENDLY  "    VISIT,    AND    HOW    IT    ENDED. 

At  the  hour  named  by  Jake  Zellon  about  two  dozen 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  nearly  all  drafted  men, 
gathered  at  the  rendezvous  in  Prantman's  lane.  The 
day  had  been  warm  and  pleasant  but  the  night  came  in 
chilly,  cloudy  and  very  dark.  The  sough  of  the  autumn 
wind  in  the  boughs  of  the  great  old  chestnut  tree 
sounded  weird  and  sad,  and  despite  the  errand  they 
were  on,  caused  some  of  these  men  to  think  of  what 
might  very  soon  come  into  their  lives.  They  were  quiet 
and  seemed  more  like  persons  about  to  attend  a  funeral 
than  to  go  on  a  frolic.  Zellon  was  one  of  the  first  to 
arrive  and  he  noticed  that  those  who  came  were  rather 
grave. 

"  What's  the  matter,  you  dumb-heads  ?  "  he  growled. 
"  It's  chilly  to-night  and  I  ^vish  we  had  a  jug  of  JNIehlhu- 
ber's  juice  here  to  warm  us  up.  But  never  mind,  we'll 
make  the  Yankee  give  us  all  the  cider  we  can  drmk  and 
something  to  eat  too,  won't  we,  boys  ?  " 

"  Say,  Jake,  don't  be  so  loud,"  expostulated  Pete 
Prantman.  "  They'll  hear  us,  and  besides  you're  liable 
to  be  jumped  on  any  time  by  the  Lincohiers  — you  and 
Jim  there." 

"  I've  got  all  my  fingers  anyhow,"  ZeUon  returned. 


374  EKEMIES    IN   THE   HEAR; 

"  Yes,  and  a  hole  in  your  hand  from  shooting  too 
much  at  a  mark  besides,"  added  Pete.  These  little 
pleasantries  were  ended  by  the  sound  of  approaching 
footsteps. 

"Late,  as  usual,  Andy,"  said  Jake  lighting  an  old 
lantern  to  see  that  none  but  friends  were  present. 
"  Now  we'll  wait  no  longer  else  the  Yankee'll  be  in  bed. 
Off  we  go  !  " 

For  some  hours  preparations  had  been  going  on  at  the 
house  of  Jabez  Chetwynde  to  receive  the  expected  com- 
pany hospitably  and  when  the  Knights  left  their  meet- 
ing-place a  substantial  meal  was  ready  in  the  kitchen. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chetwynde,  Blanche,  Tom  Hartnagel  and 
Captain  Ruthvon  were  in  the  sitting-room  awaiting  the 
visitors.  Mrs.  Chetwynde  and  Blanche  were  ill  at  ease. 
They  knew  the  bitter  enmity  Zellon  and  Prantman  bore 
toward  the  family.  Moreover,  they  felt  that  the  pres- 
ence of  Tom  and  the  captam  would  have  a  tendency  to 
excite  their  angry  passions.  Indeed  Mrs.  Chetwynde 
had  hinted  as  much,  but  the  two  soldiers  declared  there 
was  no  danger,  or  if  there  was  they  must  share  it  with 
the  family.  The  gentle  lady  was  cautioning  them  to  be 
prudent  when  suddenly  the  sound  of  a  fife  was  heard 
not  far  from  the  house. 

"That's  Sharp  Billy's  signal  of  the  approach  of  our 
visitors,"  said  Hartnagel,  and  a  few  moments  later, 
without  a  preliminary  knock,  the  rude  party  with  Zellon 
at  their  head  entered  the  outer  door  of  the  sitting-room. 
Jabez  did  not  mind  the  manner  of  their  entrance  how- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CLRCLE   SQUARED.  376 

ever,  for  he  had  become  accustomed  to  this  peculiar 
feature  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  civilization.  He  said 
"  Good  evening  "  pleasantly  as  they  filed  in.  A  few 
returned  his  salutation  and  seemed  half  ashamed  of 
themselves,  but  the  majority  were  sullen,  and  all  kept 
their  hats  on. 

Zellon  was  taken  aback  somewhat  when  he  saw  Cap- 
tain Rvithvon  present  in  addition  to  Tom  Hartnagel,  but 
suddenly  the  thought  flashed  upon  him  that  here  the 
very  opportunity  he  had  been  seeking  might  present 
itseK.  Besides,  the  villian  was  in  desperate  mood 
to-night.  He  knew  that  what  Pete  had  said  to  him 
concerning  himself  and  Fetzer  was  true,  and  he  cared 
little  what  he  did.  If  possible  he  must  start  a  quarrel 
as  best  calculated  to  serve  his  purpose.  Turning  his 
back  on  Captain  Ruth  von  and  the  ladies,  he  addressed 
Mr.  Chetwynde  : 

"  They  say  you're  an  awful  friend  of  the  soldiers.  A 
good  many  of  us  has  been  called  on  by  black  Abe  to 
fight  to  get  the  niggers  free  and  we  thought  you'd  be 
bad  glad  to  see  us  before  we  go  away  and  give  us  a 
drink  of  fresh  cider  and  something  to  eat,  and  so  we 
came  here." 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  laughing  and  snickering 
among  the  men  at  this  speech.  Tom  Hartnagel,  with 
his  coat  off,  stood  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  room,  his 
arms  folded  on  his  chest  and  his  jaws  more  firmly  set 
than  usual. 

"  Zellon  I'm  a  friend  to  every  true  man  who  has  gone 


376  ENEMIES   EST   THE   EEAK; 

or  is  going  out  in  defence  of  liis  country,"  said  Jabez 
standing  close  to  the  fellow  and  speaking  very  kindly. 

"•  To  free  niggers  you  mean,"  interrupted  Andrew 
Pfannkuchen. 

"  He's  right,"  said  Zellon  with  a  wicked  leer  in  his  eye. 
Hartnagel  gave  a  start  and  one  arm  left  his  chest,  but 
a  look  from  Mrs.  Chetwynde  restrained  him. 

"  And  I  think,"  continued  Mr.  Chetwynde  without 
seeming  to  notice  the  rudeness  of  his  visitors  at  all,  "  I'm 
not  boastful  when  I  say  that  I  have  shown  my  friendli- 
ness in  practical  ways,  and  I'm  ready  to  do  it  again. 
My  own  son  is  at  this  time  probably  dead  or  if  living,  a 
prisoner  and  perhaps  starving,  and  this  makes  me  feel 
all  the  kinder  toward  our  soldiers." 

"  And  you  Yankees  is  the  cause  of  the  whole  trouble," 
replied  Zellon  rudely.  "•  By  the  devil,  you  ain't  to  be 
pitied,  Chetwynde." 

This  time  it  was  Captain  Ruthvon  who  started  but 
Mrs.  Chetwynde  laid  her  hand  on  his  arm  and  looked  so 
anxious  that  he  leaned  back  m  his  chair  and  said 
notlimg.  Jabez  felt  the  ruflBan's  cruel  words  keenly  but 
resolved  not  to  permit  himself  to  lose  his  temper.  He 
bit  his  lip  but  spoke  calmly. 

*'I  didn't  know  you  were  coming  until  about  noon, 
otherwise  " 

"  Who  told  you  we  was  coming  ? "  asked  ZeUon 
hastily. 

•'  Well,  Zellon,  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  mat- 
ter.    It  was  better  to  know  you  were  coming,  so  that 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  377 

we  could  make  some  preparation  for  you,"  answered 
Jabez  smiling. 

"  I  think,  boys,  we  can  guess  now  sure  who  the 
traitor  was,  ain't  Ave  can?  "  said  Pete  Prantman.  Hart- 
nagel  and  the  captain  could  not  help  smiling  at  each 
other.  The  latter  was  m  great  spirits  over  his  father's 
defection.  He  had  communicated  the  news  to  Blanche 
and  whispered  that  a  better  day  was  coming. 

"  I  was  going  to  observe,"  Chet^vynde  resumed,  "  that 
if  we  had  had  more  time,  Ave  could  have  made  better 
preparation.  Still,  there  is  a  plain  supper  prepared  to 
which  all  are  heartily  welcome,  except  perhaps  a  few  of 
you." 

"Not  all  welcome,  huh?"  sneered  Zellon.  "Who 
isn't  Avelcome  ?" 

"  Soldiers  should  always  be  gentlemen,"  said  Chet- 
wynde. 

"  But  we  ain't  gentlemen,"  replied  Jake ;  "  we're 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  and  don't  want  any  of  your  be- 
deviled Yankee  'gentlemening '." 

"  Zellon,  will  you  please  let  me  finish  what  I  wish  to 
say  ?  Soldiers  ought  to  knoAV  how  to  behave  and  be 
willing  to  make  right  any  Avrong  they  have  done.  You 
knoAV  that  in  the  Bible  a  great  and  good  man  once  said 
to  the  soldiers,  '  Do  violence  to  no  man.'  " 

"  But  Ave  don't  care  Avliat  the  Bible  says,"  answered 
Jake. 

"  But  I  do  and  you  ought  to.  —  Now,  what  I  want  to 
say  is  this  :     certain  ones  of   you  made  an  unprovoked 


378  ENEMIES   IN   THE   HEAR; 

assault  on  Sam  Barbour  a  week  ago.  Those  of  you 
who  took  part  in  that  outrage  ought  to  be  quite  ready 
to  apologize.  Without  doing  that  I  should  think  you 
wouldn't  wish  to  eat  at  my  table,  since  some  of  the  goods 
you  destroyed  were  mine,  and  no  man  who  had  a  hand 
in  the  affair  and  won't  apologize  can  partake  of  my 
hospitality." 

"  Who  do  you  mean  ?  "  snarled  Zellon. 

"  I  mean  you  for  one,  and  Pete  over  there  was  one  of 
the  chief  fellows,"  replied  Chetwynde  calmly. 

"  Who  says  we  had  anything  to  do  with  it  ?  Do  you 
take  the  word  of  that  black  nigger  against  ours  ?  " 

"  You  haven't  denied  it  yet  and  Sam  Barbour's  word 
has  always  been  good  so  far.  But  there  were  good  wit- 
nesses, besides." 

"  They  lie,  and  I  think  we'll  go  out  in  the  kitchen 
once  and  eat,"  said  Zellon  beckonmg  to  his  companions. 

"  On  the  conditions  named,"  said  Chetwynde  strid- 
ing to  the  door- way. 

"  Soldiers  often  take  things  whether  people  want  to 
give  them  or  not,  ain't  so,  Ruthvon  ?  "  answered  Jake, 
trying  to  pass  by  Chetwynde  into  the  kitchen. 

"  Zellon,"  said  the  Yankee  firmly,  "  you  are  rude  and 
must  leave  my  house." 

Zellon  replied  by  seizing  his  arm  and  pushing  him  out 
of  the  door-way.  In  an  instant,  the  captain  and  Hart- 
nagel  were  at  Mr.  Chetwynde's  side  and  a  fierce  struggle 
began.  Only  four  of  the  Knights  —  Fetzer  and  Pfann- 
kuchen   among  them  —  stood  by  their  leader,  however. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  379 

The  rest  of  the  gang  became  frightened  when  they  saw 
the  serious  turn  the  affair  was  taking  and  ran  out  of  the 
house  headlong,  Pete  Prantman  being  the  foremost. 
Pfannkuchen  rushed  at  Chetwynde  but  Hartnagel  con- 
fronted him.  Loosing  his  hold  on  Jabez,  Zellon  drew  a 
pistol  and  aimed  it  square  at  Tom  as  the  latter  retreated 
from  Pfannkuchen's  blow,  but  in  the  act  of  firing  Chet- 
wynde struck  up  his  arm  and  the  bullet  biu'ied  itself  in 
the  ceiling.  Fiercely  he  turned  on  the  Yankee  again. 
The  latter  was  farirfg  badly,  for  the  remainmg  members 
of  the  party  closely  engaged  Charles  and  Hartnagel, 
when  like  a  flash  tlirough  the  open  door  a  young  man 
in  blue  uniform  sprung  into  the  room.  To  seize  Zellon 
and  hurl  him  to  the  floor  was  the  work  of  a  moment, 
but  the  latter  was  older  and  stronger  than  this  new- 
comer and  seemed  to  be  about  to  overpower  both  him 
and  Mr.  Chetwynde.  At  this  moment  the  captain  broke 
away  from  his  antagonists  and  succeeded  in  felling  the 
ruffian  with  a  blow  on  the  head. 

"  I'll  have  you  anyhow,  before  I'm  hmig,"  shouted 
Jake  with  a  terrible  oath.  '•  Your  bullet  is  moulded 
and  here  it  goes,"  and  rising  to  his  knees  as  he  spoke  he 
pulled  his  weapon  agam  and  fired  at  Ruthvon  before 
any  one  could  interpose.  The  ball  struck  Charles  in 
the  left  breast  and  he  sank  to  the  floor  with  a  groan. 

'•'  Run  now,"  cried  Zellon :  ''■  there's  one  nigger- 
worshiper  less  and  I  don't  care  how  soon  I  hang,"  and 
in  the  confusion  he  and  his  companions  escaped  out 
of  the  house  —  except  Pfannkuchen. 


380  ENEMIES  nsr  the  keae; 

"  I've  got  one  of  them  and  he  shall  hang  if  I  can  hold 
him,"  said  Hartnagel.  He  and  Andrew  were  struggling 
on  the  floor,  but  the  young  man  went  to  Tom's  aid  and 
the  big  mountaineer's  arms  were  quickly  secured. 

The  seK-control  exhibited  by  Mrs.  Chetwynde  and 
Blanche  during  this"  fearful  scene  was  remarkable. 
Aware  that  cries  on  theu"  part  would  but  embarrass 
their  friends,  they  remained  m  the  corner  of  the  room 
farthest  away  and  were  almost  perfectly  quiet.  Even 
when  the  young  soldier  rushed  in  they  only  exclaimed 
"  Oh,  it's  Clinton,  it's  Clinton,  thank  God,  he's  alive !  " 
but  made  no  other  demonstration  at  the  time. 

But  now  Blanche's  lover  fell  wounded  before  her, 
perhaps  dead.  The  very  thing  he  had  spoken  of  to  her 
long  ago  had  happened.  It  was  mdeed  too  late  !  His 
lips  would  never  speak  words  of  love  to  her  agam. 
Self-reproach  was  her  first  feeling,  and  forgetting  even 
her  brother's  return,  she  cast  herself  down  by  Charles' 
side. 

"  Charlie,  Charlie,  maybe  I  was  wrong  after  all,  can't 
you  speak  to  me  ?  "     she  cried  in  piteous  tones. 

"■  My  daughter,  come  away  quick,"  said  her  father 
liftmg  her  up.  "  He  must  be  attended  to  instantly. 
Clmton, —  God  bless  you,  my  son  !  —  and  Tom,  —  God 
bless  you  too,  you  are  a  brave  fellow  !  —  carry  him 
to  the  lounge,  —  off  for  HeKer,  Frank  —  where  is 
Frank  ?  " 

That  lad,  with  an  intuition  worthy  of  greater  years, 
had  seen  at  a  glance  who  was  needed  most.     He  called 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  381 

to  his  mother  and  without  waiting  for  directions  jumped 
into  the  wagon,  which  he  had  left  in  Sharp  Billy's 
care. 

"  I'll  go  with  you."  said  Billy,  who  hovered  around  the 
house  after  the  Knights  went  in.  "  You  may  need  me 
with  all  them  hemp-growers  around,"'  and  at  the  top  of 
the  horse's  speed  in  spite  of  the  thick  darkness  they 
started  for  Haltfest. 

Mr.  Chet-svynde  bathed  the  ca^Dtain's  face  and  washed 
the    wound,    from    which    blood    was    oozing.  The 

wounded  man  groaned  and  opened  his  eyes. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  "  he  said  feebly.  "  Is  that  you 
father  ? "  Jabez  Chetwynde  motioned  back  Blanche 
and  the  rest. 

"  Charlie,  be  perfectly  still  a  little  while,"  said  he. 
"  You  are  hurt  and  must  sleep  now." 

The  captain  closed  his  eyes  and  apparently  became 
unconscious  agam.  Mrs.  Chetwynde  and  Clmton  were 
locked  m  each  others  arms. 

"  You  Pfannkuchen  you,"  said  Hartnagel  anything 
but  gently,  as  Andrew  tried  to  rise  to  his  feet,  ''  you  lie 
still  and  be  bad  quiet  or,  by  the  great  Eulenspiegel !  I'll 
shoot  you  dead." 

"  What  right  have  you  to  keep  me  tied  here,  j^ou 
devil  ?  "  asked  the  other. 

"  You  miu'derers  will  find  out  once  now,"  answered 
Tom.  Pfannkuchen  began  to  think  that  somethmg 
serious  had  really  happened.  He  made  a  desperate 
effort  to  regam  his  feet  but  Tom  put  a  foot  on  his  chest 


382  ENEMIES    DSr   THE   REAR; 

and  bade  him  lie  still.  "  You  will  stay  tkere  till  the 
constable  comes,"  said  he. 

"  Tom,  how  did  we  come  to  forget  ?  —  but  how,  to  be 
sure  !  "  said  Mr.  Chetwynde  hastily  on  hearing  these 
words.  "  Run  over  and  tell  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ruthvon ; 
break  it  to  them  as  gently  as  you  can.  Then  hurry  on 
to  the  village  and  summon  Squire  Zweispringer  and  Con- 
stable Stahlschmidt.      Both  will  be  needed." 

"  I'm  off,"  said  Tom.  "  Clint,  how  are  you  ?  Take 
care  of  this  rebel." 

"  If  he  stirs,  I'll  shoot  him  on  the  spot  like  a  dog," 
answered  Clinton  disengaging  himself  from  his  mother's 
and  sister's  embraces  and  shaking  hands  heartily  with 
Tom. —  "  Miad  that,  you  rebel.  I've  seen  your  kind 
often  since  I  left  home,  only  you're  worse  than  the 
Virginia  species." 

Shortly  afterwards  Doctor  Heifer  arrived.  He  hur- 
riedly examined  the  wound  and  pronounced  it  very 
serious  indeed. 

"  One  iuch  lower  and  the  hurt  would  necessarily  have 
been  fatal,"  said  he  to  Mr.  Chetwynde.  —  "  CHnt, 
how  are  you  ?  —  What  have  you  got  there  ?  Andy 
Pfannkuchen  !  A  nice  Knight.  Keep  him. —  Glad  to 
see  you,  Clint.  Sorry  to  send  you  away  so  soon,  but,  dark 
as  it  is,  you  or  Tom  Hartnagel  must  go  at  once  for 
Doctor  Goettman.  He's  the  best  surgeon  in  Reading  and 
we  must  if  possible  get  that  ball  out  in  the  morning." 

"  I'll  go  myself,"  said  Clinton  hastily,  "  if  you'll  mind 
this  fellow. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  383 

"  I  will,"  said  Heifer;  '■' and  if  Zellon  is  caught,  I'll 
help  to  hang  him,  and  Philip  Huber  alongside,  for  he's 
to  blame  more  than  anybody  else  for  all  this  trouble. 
But  Charlie  must  be  taken  up  stairs  at  once,  away  from 
all  noise.     We  can  do  it,  Chetwynde." 

Preparations  were  quickly  made  and  the  wounded  man 
was  conveyed  to  an  upper  chamber. 

"  Oh,  doctor,  dear  doctor,  he  must  not  die,"  plead 
Blanche  when  Heifer  came  down  stairs  for  a  moment. 
«  Save  his  life  !  " 

"I'll  do  my  best,  rest  assured,"  he  answered  in  husky 
tones. 

When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ruthvon  came  in  answer  to  Tom 
Hartnagel's  summons  a  sad  scene  was  enacted.  The 
parents  were  distracted  with  grief.  Doctor  Heifer  urged 
caution,  but  for  a  season  the  flood  of  sorrow  could  not  be 
stayed.  Charles  opened  his  eyes  when  he  heard  his 
mother's  voice.  They  fell  on  his  father  who  stood  weep- 
ing by  the  bedside. 

''It's  all  right,  father,  is  it  not?"  he  said  with  a 
feeble  voice.  "  You  forgive  me,  don't  you,  and  I  am 
still  your  boy  ?  " 

"  I  have  nothing  to  forgive,  Charlie,"  replied  the 
father  with  choked  utterance.  "  You  are  still  my  sou, 
my  only  son.  It's  all  my  fault,  I  think,  but  curses  on 
the  man  who  fired  that  bullet." 

"It's  all  right  now,  father,  even  if  I  do  die,  for  I  am 
stUl  your  boy,"  said  Charles. 

"  Oh,  Fred,  Fred,"  said  Mrs.  Ruthvon,  "  in  my  deep 


384  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE. 

distress  your  words  bring  me  comfort  and  joy.  —  Dear 
Lord  God,  spare  my  poor  boy  !  " 

"  Now  you've  spoken  like  a  father  and  a  man,"  whis- 
pered the  doctor  to  Frederick  Ruthvon,  "  and  have  saved 
me  from  saying  that  you  are  a  fool  and  unworthy  of 
such  a  son.  —  Now  every  one  be  quiet,  else  I'll  put  you 
all  out  except  Charlie." 

And  thus,  anxiously  watching,  midnight  came  upon 
them  and  the  Sabbath  began  —  a  Sabbath  that  might 
usher  Charles  Ruthvon  into  the  eternal  Sabbath  of 
heaven. 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

ZELLON  VISITS     THE     FORTimE-TELLER   FOE   THE   LAST 

TBIE. 

Doctor  John  Grebsgong  Goettman  arrived  at  Mr.  Chet- 
■wynde's  house  early  on  Sunday  mornmg  and  he  and 
Doctor  Heifer  at  once  held  a  consultation  in  reference  to 
Captain  Ruthvon's  injury.  The  bullet  had  entered  the 
left  side  of  tlie  chest  and  penetrated  the  left  lung.  They 
probed  the  wound  cautiously  and  determined  the  direc- 
tion which  the  missile  had  taken  ;  but  owing  to  the  con- 
dition of  extreme  shock  and  the  fear  of  exciting  fresh 
hemorrhage,  they  decided  to  defer  further  search  until 
the  following  day. 

"  A  trifle  lower  and  my  services  would  not  have  been 
needed,"  said  Goettman  ;   "  and  it's  bad  so." 

"  He  came  home  ill  about  September  1st  and  hadn't 
yet    recovered    his    full    strength,"     Heifer    remarked. 

"  That's  against  him,"  replied  Goettman. 

"  He  was  going  back  to  the  army  again  to-morrow. 
He  had  a  sixty  days'  furlough,"  remarked  HeKer  further. 

"  Unless  we  succeed  in  securing  that  ball  to-morrow, 
I  fear  the  prognosis  of  the  case  will  be  very  unfavorable 
and  that  the  young  man  will  have  an  eternal  furlough," 
said  Goettman  putting  a  cigar  stub  between  his  teeth 
and  preparing  to  leave. 


386  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAE,  ; 

"  Ho  !  it  must  be  done,"  responded  Heifer,  but  the 
interjection  sounded  tame  and  the  kind-bearted  physi- 
cian's eyes  were  moist. 

"  I'll  be  back  at  ten  in  the  morning,  Heifer.  Watch 
him  closely  and  husband  his  strength  as  much  as  possi- 
ble. Young  Chetwynde  is  furious  and  when  he  comes 
back  you'll  see  more  blue-coats.  I  imderstand  my  old 
friend  Pfannkuchen  had  a  hand  in  this  thing  and  is 
trapped." 

"  He  is  and  I  hope  he'll  get  his  due,"  answered  Hei- 
fer. 

"  He  would  if  the  military  authorities  could  deal  with 
him,  but  as  it  is  most  likely  he'll  escape,"  said  Goett- 
man,  biting  the  stub  viciously. 

"  Constable  Stahlschmidt  took  him  on  Squire  Zwei- 
springer's  warrant  and  by  this  time  he's  well  on  his  way 
to  Reading.  Of  course  it's  a  case  for  the  court  of  Oyer 
and  Terminer,  the  more  's  the  pity,"  remarked  Heifer. 

"  Yes,  for  such  traitors  the  best  thing  is  shooting  on 
the  spot,"  said  Goettman  emphatically,  his  gold-filled 
teeth  showing  conspicuously  in  spite  of  the  cigar.  "  I'll 
see  you  in  the  morning." 

"I'll  stay  here  all  day.  Don't  fail  me  to-morrow, 
Goettman." 

And  so  began  the  weary  struggle  for  life.  Clinton 
Chetwynde  returned  from  Reading  at  noon,  but,  as  Doc- 
tor Goettman  had  predicted,  not  alone.  With  him  came 
six  soldiers,  under  Sergeant  Thompson.  They  were  in- 
structed to  act  as  aids  merely  to  the  constable  to  whom 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIKCLE   SQUARED.  387 

the  warrant  for  Zelloii's  apprehension  might  he  given,  so 
as  to  avoid  all  friction  between  the  civil  and  the  mili- 
tary authorities.  They  received  a  hearty  welcome  from 
Mr.  Chetwjaide,  and  even  Constable  Stahlschmidt,  jeal- 
ous as  he  was  of  the  military  authority,  was  glad  to  have 
them  with  him  in  view  of  the  desperate  character  of  the 
man  he  was  to  take. 

While  the  soldiers  were  doing  justice  to  a  bountiful 
dinner  in  the  kitchen  Clinton  partook  of  his  in  a  back 
room  up  stairs  where  there  would  be  no  intrusion  by 
visitors,  and  gave  the  family  a  brief  account  of  his  cap- 
ture by  the  rebels  and  his  escape.  He  was  carried  to- 
ward Richmond  and  not  with  standmg  his  vigilance,  for  a 
whole  month  no  opportunity  of  escape  presented  itself, 
and  when  at  last  he  succeeded  in  gettmg  away  from 
the  camp  he  was  a  number  of  times  in  danger  of  re- 
capture. 

"  But  the  negroes  helped  me  through,"  said  he, 
"  sometimes  by  giving  me  shelter,  sometimes  by  warning 
me  of  the  approach  of  danger,  and  again  by  guiding  me 
on  my  way  at  night.  Not  one  was  untrue,  and  these 
men  —  for  they  are  men  —  deserve  the  liberty  they  are 
about  to  get.  After  reaching  our  o^vn  lines  I  applied 
for  a  furlough  for  sixty  days  and  got  it.  I  traveled  day 
and  night  to  get  home  and  here  I  am." 

"  Franz  Yorim,  who  carries  more  gossip  than  goods," 
said  Mrs.  Chetwynde,  "  stopped  on  his  way  home  yes- 
terday at  dark  to  tell  us  that  you  had  been  seen  in 
Reading.     It  was  not  true,  but  high  hopes  were  raised 


388  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

and  Frank  went  to  meet  the  late  train  last  night  and 
again  to-night,  and  this  time  he  brought  you." 

"  And  now  for  Zellon,"  said  Clinton  after  a  little  fur- 
ther conversation.  "  We  know  where  to  look  for  the 
villain  and  by  evening  I  think  we'll  have  him." 

Early  in  the  afternoon  Stahlschmidt  was  ready  to  start 
on  the  execution  of  his  warrant.  He  found  himself  at 
the  head  of  a  goodly  force,  for  besides  the  soldiers  a 
number  of  men  and  boys  volunteered  to  join  the  hunt. 

Leaving  him  and  his  men  to  make  their  way  toward 
the  South  Mountain  through  the  heavily  falling  rain,  let 
us  go  back  to  the  preceding  evening  and  follow  Jake 
Zellon  when  he  rushes  from  Chetwynde's  house  after 
shooting  Captain  Ruthvon.  James  Fetzer  and  he  kept 
together,  rmming  all  the  way,  until  they  reached  the 
road  that  stretches  along  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  Here 
they  stopped  to  rest  and  hold  a  consultation. 

"  We'll  wait  here  about  half  an  hour  to  see  whether 
any  one  is  coming  this  here  way,"  said  Zellon.  "  It'll 
never  do  at  all  for  us  to  keep  together." 

"  Mehlhuber  is  bound  by  his  oath  to  give  me  "  — -  Fet- 
zer began. 

"I  don't  want  to  know  where  you're  going,"  said 
Zellon  irritably,  "  and  I'm  not  going  to  tell  you  where 
I'm  going.  It  might  be  bad  for  you  to  know.  No  one's 
coming,"  he  continued  after  a  long  silence.  "  It's  as 
dark  as  two  bags.     Off  with  you." 

After  Fetzev's  footsteps  had  died  away  he  followed  a 
short  distance  in  the  same  direction.     Then  he  turned  to 


OR,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  389 

the  left,  taking  the  road  that  led  up  the  mountain.  His 
destination  was  the  fortune-teller's  habitation.  For  some 
time  he  had  been  forming  a  plan  to  rob  Galsch.  He  be- 
lieved that  the  small  chamber  contained  immense  wealth. 
His  avarice  overmastered  his  superstitious  fear.  He  re- 
solved to  possess  himself  of  the  sibyl's  treasure  and  then 
leave  the  neighborhood  forever.  He  was  certain  he  had 
killed  Ruthvon,  but  before  mounting  the  gallows  he  would 
enjoy  himself  awhile.  His  designs  on  Galsch  must  be 
consummated  that  night.  He  hurried  through  the  thick 
darkness  along  the  same  broken  road  down  which  he  and 
Pete  Prantman  had  so  recently  come  at  such  break-neck 
speed.  At  the  Cross-rock  he  slackened  his  pace  and 
peered  all  around  lest  some  bogey  might  spring  upon  him 
unawares.  These  creatures  of  the  imagination  he  dreaded 
far  more  than  the  avengers  of  the  law's  majesty  who 
would  soon  be  on  his  track.  He  was  not  molested  and 
toward  midnight  reached  the  rock  where  Pete  had  waited 
for  him  on  his  previous  visit.  Cautiously  he  approached 
the  sibyl's  habitation.  To  his  surprise  he  saw  a  light 
streaming  from  the  window.  Creeping  up  carefully,  he 
looked  into  the  large  room  and  to  his  still  greater  sur- 
prise he  saw  Pete  Prantman  in  the  apartment  with  the 
fortune-teller.  The  former  stood  by  the  fire  on  the 
hearth  and  Galsch  sat  by  the  table  consulting  the  large 
black  book. 

"  What  has  brought  that  hog-dog  here  at  this  hour  ?  " 
said  Zellon  to  himself  in  a  whisper.  "  The  coward  is  up 
to  something." 


390  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR; 

He  went  up  to  the  door,  softly  raised  the  latch  and 
walked  into  the  room.  Pete  was  startled  at  sight  of  his 
late  companion,  but  Galsch  rose  up  hastily  and  looked  at 
Zellon  as  if  frightened.  She  took  a  step  backward  and 
exclaimed  :  — ■  '■'•  Zellon,  Zellon,  what  have  you  done  ?  " 

"  What  have  I  done,  you  cursed  old  witch?  "  he  said 
fiercely. 

"  There  is  blood  on  your  right  hand  and  "  —  starting 
back  another  step  and  seeming  to  tremble  —  "thei^e  is  a 
great  black  arm  over  your  head  and  back  of  you  I  see  a 
gallows  !  " 

'^  Holy  cross  !  heaven  !  lightning  !  "  he  cried,  fairly 
leaping  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  room.  "  Did  you  tell 
her,  Pete  ?  " 

"  He  told  me  nothing,"  she  interposed.  '•  Can't  I  see 
for  myself  ?  " 

"  What  made  you  grow  this  way  so  soon  after  I 
saw  you  last,  Pete  ?  "  he  asked  after  recovering  himseK. 

"  I  never  allow  patrons  to  tell  each  other  their  errands 
while  in  my  ho  vise,  it  confuses  everything,"  said  Galsch 
hastily,  seeing  how  embarrassed  Pete  looked  and  fearing 
he  would  say  something  that  would  anger  Zellon. 

"  Katrina,  me  and  you  is  good  friends  and  I  want  to 
ask  a  favor,"  said  the  latter  in  a  conciliatory  tone.  "In 
spite  of  the  black  arm  I'm  bad  hungry.  Give  me  some- 
thing to  eat  once." 

"  That  shall  you  have,"  she  replied  pleasantly  and, 
having  first  closed  the  big  book  and  deposited  it  in  her 
strong  box,  proceeded  to  set  before  him  bread  and  meat. 


OE,     A    GOLDEN   CIKCLE   SQUAEED.  391 

He  ate  heartily  and  then  remarked  that  he  liked  her 
bread  much  better  than  Mehlhuber's  wife's  and  would 
like  to  take  a  loaf  mth  him  to  the  mill  to  eat  in  the 
evening  when  he  got  hungry.  She  understood  hmi  per- 
fectly and  readily  complied  with  his  request. 

"  It's  getting  late  and  I  must  go  home  now,"  he  said 
rising,  "•  and  I  think  it's- time  for  Pete  too."  He  stepped 
up  to  the  latter  and  hissed  into  his  ear  :  —  "■  None  of 
that  there  ;  not  a  word  to  any  one  that  you  saw  me  here. 
If  you  offer  to  give  me  up  to  save  yourself  or  to  get  a 
reward,  there's  a  bullet  moulded  for  you  too  if  I  hang- 
next  minute.  Pete  shrunk  from  him  and  made  no  reply, 
and  Zellon  then  opened  the  door  and  went  out  without 
another  word. 

••'  Zellon,"  said  Galsch  followmg  him  outside,  "  when 
you  are  hungry  at  the  mill  remember  there  is  more  bread 
left  where  that  loaf  came  from."  He  merely  grunted 
"  It  must  be  good  so  "  and  was  gone.  He  lurked  aromid 
the  building  however  for  two  hours,  but  Prantman  tar- 
ried and  meanwhile  Sharp  Billy  came  and  entered  the 
house.  Zellon  could  not  execute  his  designs  that  night 
but  resolved  to  do  so  the  next.  He  knew  it  would  be 
dangerous  then,  but  what  mattered  it  ?  Bestowing  a 
curse  on  Pete  Prantman,  he  made  his  way  to  Bodie's 
barn,  where  he  slept  until  near  daylight.  Then  he  went 
toward  Outlook  Hill,  stopping  at  a  brooklet  to  eat  of  his 
loaf.  It  was  a  dismal  mornino;.  The  ram  beg-an  to  fall 
and  the  leaves  were  coming  thickly  to  the  ground  — 
nature   was  weepmg  for  its    departmg    glory.      Shortly 


392  ENEMIES   LN"   THE   EEAE ; 

after  day-break  lie  stood  on  the  topmost  rock  of  the  Hill 
but  the  magnificent  view  afforded  by  that  peak  was  now 
in  large  part  hidden  by  the  mists  overhanging  the  valley. 
But  Zellon  had  no  thought  of  the  scenery.  He  hardly 
gave  any  heed  even  to  the  falling  rain. 

The  spot  had  a  strange  fascination  for  him.  He  knew 
that,  but  for  the  fog,  he  could  see  Chetwynde's  house 
and  all  its  suiTOundings.  He  lingered  for  some  time  in 
the  rain,  seeking  m  vain  to  penetrate  the  vapory  veil 
that  hid  the  valley  from  his  sight.  Then  he  turned  and 
sought  shelter  like  a  hunted  animal  in  the  thick  under- 
growth, ate  more  of  the  loaf,  slept  awhile,  and  ate  again. 
Once  more  he  stood  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  It 
was  now  noon.  The  rain  still  fell  steadily,  but  the  fog 
had  lifted  except  on  the  extreme  northern  side  of  the 
valley.  His  first  glance  was  toward  the  Yankee's  house 
and  his  gaze  was  riveted.  Numbers  of  horses  and  car- 
riages were  in  the  lane  and  groups  of  people  stood  in  the 
yard  sheltered  by  umbrellas.  Presently  eight  horsemen 
rode  up  to  the  house,  dismounted  and  entered.  He  knew 
their  errand  well  and  gnashed  his  teeth. 

"  She  must  yield  up  her  treasure  before  I  go,  so  help 
me  all  evil  spirits,  hell !  sacrament !  "  he  growled.  "  I'll 
have  a  good  time  in  the  South  and  hang  decently  at 
last."  He  remained  standing  in  one  spot  for  some  time 
without  seeming  to  feel  the  rain  and  chilly  atmosphere. 
At  last  the  soldiers  reappeared  and  mounted  their 
horses.  With  them  were  others,  some  riding,  some  on 
foot.     All  turned  south  toward  the  mountain.     Then  he 


OE,   A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUAEED.  393 

knew  that  the  hunt  had  begun.  Stepping  behind  a  tree 
lest  he  might  be  discovered  even  at  that  distance,  he 
examined  his  pistols  carefully  and  then  resumed  his 
watch.  The  whole  party  kept  on  until  they  reached 
the  road  mentioned  before.  They  turned  west  and  the 
question  was  whether  they  would  go  on  towards  Mehl- 
huber's  mill  or  take  the  mountain  road.  He  hurried 
along  the  rough  path  to  ascertain,  and  found  that 
they  were  all  going  straight  ahead.  He  knew  their 
destination,  and  sui'mised  that  later  in  the  day  the  chase 
would  turn  in  the  direction  of  the  fortune-teller's  habita- 
tion. He  rightly  concluded  that  the  safest  place  to  hide 
in  until  night  was  the  thick  foliage  of  some  tall  pme. 
In  a  few  moments  he  had  selected  and  mounted  one 
some  distance  from  the  road,  and  for  a  long  time  he 
heard  nothing  save  the  dismal  patter  of  the  rain  on  the 
leaves. 

When  Constable  Stahlschmidt  reached  the  mill  he 
found  the  doors  fastened,  but  Mehlhuber  soon  appeared 
from  the  house  and  opened  them.  The  miller  said  that 
Zellon  had  not  been  there  at  all  to  his  knowledge  since 
noon  of  the  previous  day.  Three  men  kept  guard  out- 
side while  the  rest  —  the  civilians  who  had  volunteered 
in  the  search  had  abeady  been  driven  from  the  field 
either  by  the  elements  or  by  fear  —  with  Clinton  Chet- 
wynde  in  the  lead  made  diligent  examination  within  the 
building.  No  one  was  found.  James  Fetzer  had  slept 
in  the  mill-room,  but  took  to  the  mountain  at  day-break. 
Two  men  were  left  in  the  mill,  against  the  solemn  pro- 


394  ENEiSIIES   IN   THE    EEAE ; 

test  of  the  proprietor,  and  toward  evening  Zellon  from 
his  perch  saw  the  constable  and  the  remainder  of  his 
posse  ride  along  the  road  toward  Galsch's  place.  One 
straggler  passed  under  the  very  tree  he  was  in. 

Meanwhile  Tom  Hartnagel  had  arrived  at  the  sibyl's. 
He  believed  he  would  be  more  likely  to  secure  informa- 
tion of  the  whereabouts  of  Zellon  here  than  anywhere 
else.  He  was  not  disappointed,  for  Galsch  at  once 
imformed  him  of  Jake's  visit  during  the  night,  and 
expressed  the  opinion  that  if  the  fugitive  was  not  leaving 
for  good,  hunger  Avould  bring  him  agam  after  dark. 
When  Stahlschmidt  came  he  was  told  of  her  view  and 
agreed  with  her.  If  Zellon  were  liu-king  in  the  neigh- 
borhood however,  he  would  probably  observe  their 
motions,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the  entire  party  should 
return  to  Chetwynde's  and  thus  remove  suspicion. 
After  nightfall  Sharp  Billy  would  conduct  them  back 
by  an  unfrequented  path  from  the  road  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain. 

This  was  done.  The  constable,  Tom  Hartnagel  and 
one  soldier  were  duty  hidden-  in  the  '■'•  consultation  cham- 
ber "  and  the  remainmg  soldiers,  mcluding  CUinton  Chet- 
wynde,  were  placed  at  various  points  around  the  house. 
The  task  of  those  without  was  a  disagreeable  one,  the 
rain  still  descending  steadily,  but  the  men  were  accus- 
tomed to  such  weather  and  minded  it  but  little. 

There  were  no  signs  of  Zellon  in  the  first  hours  of  the 
night,  but  about  eleven  o'clock  he  walked  into  the  house. 
He  shivei-ed  with  the  cold  and  wet  and  hugged  the  fire 


OE,   A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUAEED.  395 

closely.  Here  he  might  have  been  taken  easily,  but  the 
officer  had  instructed  Galsch  to  get  him  to  talk  as  much 
as  she  could  first,  for  obyious  reasons. 

"•  I  saw  the  Lincolners  go  back,"  said  Zellon,  '•'■  but  I 
had  to  wait  so  long  to  be  sure  none  of  them  was  coming 
back  here.  Give  me  some  juice  or  something  hot  quick, 
Galsch.  Fm  wet  through,  holy  cross  !  It's  too  bad  for 
a  dog  to  be  out  to-night,  let  alone  a  decent  man  lilve 
Jake  Zellon,  huh  ?  " 

Without  replying  she  went  to  an  old  cupboard,  brought 
out  a  large  bottle  of  antique  shape  with  a  drinking-glass 
to  correspond,  and  set  them  on  the  table  before  him. 

"■  You  are  cold,  ch'ink,"  she  said.  He  filled  the  glass 
and  emptied  it,  and  again,  and  yet  again. 

"  Say,  Galsch,  but  that  is  wine  once,"  he  exclaimed 
after  the  third  glass.  '^  Does  the  devil  furnish  it  as 
part  of  your  bargain  with  hmi  ?  " 

"•  My  father  brought  that  wine  from  the  fatherland 
long  ago,"  she  replied  with  a  tinge  of  sadness. 

"It  warms  better  than  the  fire,"  said  he  fiUmg  the 
glass  once  more.  '•  Give  me  something  to  eat.  Mehl- 
huber's  wife  is  sick  and  I  got  nothing  all  day." 

''  Eat  and  drink  while  you  can,  Jake,"  she  responded 
proceeding  to  procure  him  food. 

"  You're  right  I  "  he  exclaimed  with  an  oath.  ''  But 
Katrina, — kill  that  cat  I  she's  the  devil  if  you  ain't, — 
of  course  you  didn't  tell  them  devils  I  was  here.  Me 
and  you  is  friends. —  Say,  do  you  see  the  black  arm  over 
me  yet?"  and  invohmtarily  he  looked  upward. 


396  ENEIVIIES   IN   THE   EEAR ; 

"Not  now,"  she  replied  evasively,  "  Ge witter,  lie 
down,  will  you  ?  " 

"  But  how  is  it  about  that  cursed  Ruthvon  whom  Prant- 
man  has  always  hissed  me  on  to  kill?"  he  inquired,  be- 
ginning to  devour  the  meal  she  had  by  this  time  placed 
on  the  table. 

"  What  about  him  ?  "  she  said  innocently. 

"  Oh,  bah !  you  know,  you  old  hex  you,"  he  answered 
petulantly.  "Did  you  hear  whether  he's  living,  the 
carrion  ?  " 

"  If  he  is,  I  hear  it's  no  fault  of  yours,  Jake,  and  I 
think  you  had  better  go  off  as  soon  as  you  can." 

"  I  will  when  I'm  ready,  but  I  ain't  quite  yet." 

"  You  want  to  make  it  hot  for  one  or  two  yet  before 
you  go,  I  think." 

"Lean  on  that,"  he  answered  with  a  wicked  leer. 
"  Maybe  you'll  find  out  soon.  I  made  it  hot  and  light 
for  the  Yankee  and  —  but  never  mind ;  it  is  nothing  to 
you.     You  ask  Pete  about  it." 

After  eating  and  drinking  like  one  famished  he  asked 
whether  she  had  heard  anything  of  Fetzer  or  Pf ann- 
kuchen. 

"  Both  safe,"  she  replied,  "  Andy  in  jail  and  Fetzer 
gone. 

"  Say,  you  Galsch,"  said  Zellon  rising  from  the  table, 
"  the  bottle  is  empty,  but  I  think  there's  plenty  more  of 
this  good  wine  in  the  little  kammer  there.  May  I  go 
and  look  ?  "  and  before  she  was  aware  of  his  design  he 
had   secured  her  hands  by  means  of  a  strong  cord  he 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE   SQUARED.  397 

had  with  him.  Recovering  from  her  surprise  she  gave  a 
shrill  scream,  the  outer  door  and  the  door  of  the  chamber 
opened  almost  simultaneously,  and  Clmton,  Sharp  Billy, 
Hartnagel,  Stahlschmidt  and  the  soldiers  rushed  in. 
Quick  as  a  flash  Zellon  drew  a  pistol  and  leveled  it  at 
Hartnagel.  The  ball  grazed  Tom's  ear  and  hit  one 
of  the  soldiers  in  the  shoulder,  wounding  him  slightly. 
Zellon  then  turned  and  made  a  leap  for  the  window  oppo- 
site the  main  door,  cai-rying  sash  and  glass  with  him.  Sev- 
eral shots  were  fired  but  all  missed  him.  He  was  almost 
through  when  a  ball  better  aimed  struck  him  and  wounded 
him  mortally.  He  was  dragged  back  into  the  room  and 
laid  on  the  floor. 

"  Mam  was  wi'ong  after  all,"  he  said.  "  The  bullet  has 
done  it  and  I'm  dying.  "  Curse  Huber  !  curse  you, 
Galsch,  it'll  come  home  to  you  !  Stahlschmidt,  tell 
my  old  mam  at  Rausch  Gap,"  he  went  on,  his  voice 
weakening  rapidly — ■  "tell  her  that  her  good-for-nothing 
boy  wasn't  hanged  after  all.  And  Pete  Prantman,  he 
paid  me  twenty-five  dollars  to  set  fire  to  —  I'm  dying  — 
Lord  God,  have  pity  — -  O  !  mam,  I'm  —  I  " — •  and  the 
soul  of  Jake  Zellon  had  gone  into  the  hands  of  the  Judge 
of  all  the  earth  who  doeth  right. 

During  this  scene  Tom  Hartnagel  stood  in  his  favorite 
attitude  but  with  head  cast  down.  Katrina  Galsch  was 
the  first  to  speak  after  its  close. 

"  The  black  arm  I  saw  over  him  struck  him  sooner 
than  I  thought,"  she  said. 

"To  be  sure,"  replied  Hartnagel  looking  up  at  her 


398  ENEMIES   IN  THE   EEAE ; 

rather  contemptuously,  "  but  Herrschaft !  Galsch,  if  we 
hadn't  been  here,  the  devil  you  serve,  all  the  evil  spirits, 
and  Gewitter  there  in  the  broken  window  in  the  bargain, 
— skull,  candle,  books  and  all,  —  couldn't  have  saved  yt)u 
from  being  robbed  and  maybe  killed." 

"  But  I'm  sure  my  master  sent  you  here  to  save  me," 
she  returned  in  a  very  serious  tone.  Hartnagel  could 
not  refrain  from  laughing  at  this  remark,  but  quickly 
changing  his  manner  again  he  took  hold  of  one  of  the 
dead  man's  hands. 

"  He  was  a  strong,  courageous  fellow,  I  must  say,"  he 
remarked.  "  What  a  Union  soldier  he  might  have 
made,  only  for  Ancoony  and  them  fellows.  I  forgive 
him  his  ill-will  to  me  though  he  came  near  laying  me 
out.     My  ear  sings." 

The  wounded  soldier  was  attended  to,  after  which,  at 
the  request  of  the  constable.  Sergeant  Thompson  detailed 
two  of  his  men  to  remain  with  the  body  until  the 
coroner  could  be  notified  and  an  inquest  held.  A  great 
j&re  was  built  and  the  entire  party  disposed  themselves 
around  it  and  rested  until  morning. 

"My  head  is  all  turned  round,"  whispered  Sharp 
Billy  to  Tom  Hartnagel  when  the  latter  was  leaving. 

"  How  so,  you  Schwernoether  ?  " 

"  I  was  sure  it  was  going  to  be  hemp,"  he  replied  with 
a  curious  twinkle  in  his  eye,  "  but  after  all  it  was  a 
bullet  and  I'm  afraid  my  mam  can't  see  very  clear 
any  more  and  that  I'll  have  to  set  up  business  myself 
soon." 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  399 

"I  think  not,  Billy,"  said  Tom.  "Me  and  you'll  set 
up  together  maybe  sometime." 

Sharp  Billy  looked  at  Tom  in  surprise.  He  did  not 
understand  him  then. 

A  jury  was  duly  impaneled  by  the  coroner  and  an 
mquest  held  on  the  body  of  Jake  Zellon.  Several  of  the 
jurymen  Avere  inclined  to  censure  Stahlschmidt  for  al- 
lowing soldiers  to  aid  him.  Their  inclination  was  the 
stronger  because  it  clearly  appeared  that  Sergeant 
Thompson  had  fired  the  fatal  shot ;  but  as  neither  this 
ofiicer  nor  the  constable  had  in  any  manner  transcended 
his  authority,  nothing  remained  for  the  jury  to  do  but  to 
bring  in  the  verdict  they  did  —  that  Jacob  Zellon  came 
to  his  death  from  a  bullet  wound  made  by  Sergeant 
Peaceful  Thompson,  while  seeking  to  avoid  arrest  on  the 
charge  of  assault  with  intent  to  kill,  and  that  in  their 
opmion  no  blame  attached  to  the  said  Sergeant  Peaceful 
Thompson  for  his  act.  The  body  was  removed  to 
Mehlhuber's  mill,  where,  in  the  mill-room,  it  reposed 
until  next  day  when  relatives  from  Rausch  Gap  took  it 
away  for  burial. 

William  Rambeutel  was  reinstated  as  miller,  but  he 
slept  in  the  mill-room  no  longer. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

THE    STEUGGLE   FOE,   LIFE. 

Sunday  is  tlie  great  yisiting  day  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Germans.  They  go  to  church  in  the  morning  if  there 
are  services,  and  in  tlie  afternoon  they  make  visits. 
Without  any  preconcert  fifteen  or  twenty  persons  will 
often  gather  at  one  house.  And  where  very  sick  people 
are,  there  visitors  most  do  congregate.  Jabez  Chet- 
wynde's  residence  was  not  treated  exceptionally.  The 
news  of  young  Captain  Ruthvon's  misfortune  spread 
rapidly  and  although  the  rain  fell,  faster  and  faster,  yet 
by  eleven  o'clook  on  Sunday  morning  scores  of  men  and 
women  had  arrived  there  and  dozens  more  were  on  the 
way.  They  filled  the  dining-room,  they  crowded  the 
kitchen ;  some  w^ere  in  the  barn  ;  others  stood  under 
their  umbrellas  in  the  door-yard ;  and,  as  the  days 
when  doctors  forbade  unnecessary  persons  in  the  sick- 
chamber  had  not  yet  come,  too  many  of  them  found 
their  way  into  the  room  where  Charles  lay  and  the  door- 
way was  blocked  up  by  those  who  were  possessed  of  a 
morbid  curiosity  to  get  even  a  glimpse  of  the  wounded 
soldier. 

He  was  dying,  his  assailant  was  at  large  but  soldiers 
were  coming  to  catch  him,  young  Clinton  Chetwynde 
came  home  unexpectedly,  Frederick  Ruthvon  was  recon- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  401 

ciled  to  his  son  again  —  all  these  and  a  hundred  other 
things  were  eagerly  discussed,  and  it  is  but  just  to 
record  that  nearly  all  the  visitors  abhorred  Zellon's  deed 
and  sympathized  deeply  with  the  afflicted  family.  The 
arrival  of  Clinton  and  his  comrades  m  arms  created 
quite  a  flurry.  The  young  women  remarked  that 
Clinton  had  grown  in  his  absence  and  was  handsomer 
than  ever  and  Susie  Zweispringer  was  envied  by  many  a 
lass.  Sergeant  Thompson  too  was  the  recipient  of  not 
a  few  admiring  glances  and  none  were  more  ardent  than 
those  of  Margaret  Prantman,  who,  sour  as  she  was 
could  nevertheless  in  her  peculiar  way  appreciate  a 
handsome  male  countenance. 

When  Constable  Stahlschmidt  and  his  force  set  out  in 
quest  of  Jake  Zellon  tongues  wagged  rapidly.  Would 
Jake  be  found  ?     What  would  be  done  with  him  ? 

"  I  hope  they  won't  get  him,"  said  Miss  Prantman  to 
Miss  Vonneida  who  had  left  grandmother  alone  to 
come  and  inquire  about  Charles.  "  It  was  only  a  frolic 
and  they  was  all  to  blame." 

"  Ret  Prantman,  you  hold  your  mouth,  or  I'll  have 
you  put  out  of  this  house  quicker  than  you  came  in," 
exclaimed  Sallie  in  tones  none  the  less  emphatic  for 
being  low.  "  Shame  yourself  !  "  Ret  held  it  prudent 
not  to  make  any  reply  to  the  angry  girl  and  contented 
herself  with  a  sneer  and  turning  her  back  upon  Sallie 
with  a  female  twist. 

Shortly  the  kitchen  door  opened  and  a  little  old  man 
entered.       He    wore    blue    pantaloons    muddy    to    the 


402  EKEINIIES   IN   THE   EEAK  ,* 

knees,  a  red  vest  much  too  short,  last  summer's  shabby 
linen  duster  and  a  battered  "  stove-pipe  "  hat.  In  his 
right  hand  he  carried  a  tattered  umbrella  and  in  the 
other  a  small  brown  tin  box. 

"  There's  old  Bapp,  the  witch-doctor,"  exclaimed 
several  of  the  women,  nudging  their  neighbors.  "  Won- 
der what  he  wants  anyhow  ?  " 

"  Oh,  he  can  draw  any  bullet  with  stuff  he's  got," 
said  a  wrmkled  old  woman  sitting  by  the  cook  stove. 
"They  say  the  Yankee  wouldn't  let  them  put  up  horse- 
shoes over  Charles'  room-door,  and  that's  just  the  reason 
the  doctors  couldn't  get  out  the  bullet.  Something  must 
be  done  and  old  Bapp  can  do  it  too." 

Witch-doctor  Bapp  of  Sclmarraffelsschteddel  was  not 
at  all  averse  to  partaking  of  the  food  which  the  hired 
girl  with  much  deference  offered  him.  After  eating  he 
inquired  whether  Doctor  Heifer  was  in  the  house  and  was 
taken  aback  considerably  when  answered  in  the 
affirmative.  Was  Fred  Ruthvon  in  ?  Yes.  Could 
he  see  him  ?  They  would  inquire.  Mr.  Ruthvon 
soon  came  down  stairs  and  Bapp  at  once  drew  him 
aside. 

"  Now,"  said  the  charlatan,  "  I'm  told  that  buUet  is 
still  in  your  son's  body  and  I  hurried  with  all  my  might 
to  get  here,  for  I  didn't  know  what  would  happen  soon. 
I  knew  your  father  and,  you  know  me.  He  and  me 
always  stuck  to  the  good  old  ways  and  you  remember 
how  I  once  saved  your  roan  horse  —  you  was  only  a  boy 
then  —  when  he  had  the  bots  so  awful,  by  giving  him 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  403 

seven  grains  of  i-ye  that  grew  on  the  very  spot  on  Mt. 
Carmel  on  which  the  prophet  Elijah  did  build  the 
altar." 

Mr.  Ruthvon  had  a  good  deal  of  superstition  left  in 
his  composition,  and  his  native  inertia  inclmed  him  to 
believe  in  talismans  and  occult  remedies.  Besides, 
under  present  circumstances  his  mind  was  in  a  state  of 
receptivity.  His  son's  life  was  hanging  in  the  balance. 
Nothing  that  promised  to  save  it  was  to  be  lightly  re- 
jected.    He  gave  close  attention  to  Bapp. 

"I  have,  as  you  know,"  continued  the  latter,  quickly 
noticing  the  interest  he  had  aroused  in  the  stricken 
father,  "  one  of  the  five  stones  which  David  took  out  of 
the  brook  when  he  went  forth  to  slay-  Goliath.  It's 
been  in  our  family  more  than  one  himdi-ed  years.  My 
great-grandfather  on  my  mother's  father's  side  brought 
it  from  Germany.  You  know  how  it  cured  Felix  Fetz- 
er's  wens,  though,  as  they  say,  he  was  afterwards  mur- 
dered"—  lowering  his  voice  to  a  faint  whisper — "by 
Hans  Prantman." 

"Well,  Bapp,  what  do  you  want  to  do?"  asked 
Frederick  Ruthvon  somewhat  impatiently. 

"  Just  so,"  answered  the  witch-doctor.  "  If  that  bullet 
isn't  taken  out  in  three  days,  your  boy  is  —  all  done.  If 
the  wound  is  touched,  that  is,  if  /  touch  the  wound 
with  this  here  wonderful  stone,  the  ball  will  come  out 
day  after  to-morrow,  if  he's  then  living,  and  if  he  isn't, 
it  won't  matter  you  know.  No  means  was  used  to  keep 
—  you  know  who  —  out  of  the  room  they  teU  me,  and 


404  E]SrEMIES    IN   THE   REAR; 

these  is  hiding  the  ball  and  holding  it  back  and  that  is 
the  true  reason  the  doctors  couldn't  find  it,  and  if  they 
had,  they  couldn't  have  pulled  it  out.  This  stone  will 
bring  it  and  the  —  you  know  who  —  will  have  tooth- 
ache more  than  one  night,  I  can  tell  you  now  once.  If 
the  doctors  stir  around  in  that  wound  agam  to-morrow, 
I'm  afraid  the  boy  is  —  all  done." 

Surely,  thought  the  father,  there  could  be  no  harm  in 
trying  this  remedy.  "  How  much  would  you  charge  to 
touch  the  wound  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  If  I  make  a  charge,  it  won't  do  no  good,"  was  the 
reply,  "  because  our  Blessed  Redeemer  said,  '  Freely  ye 
have  received,  freely  give  '  ;  but  if  you  give  me  nothing, 
it  won't  do  no  good  neither,  for  He  also  said,  '  The  work- 
man is  worthy  of  his  meat.'  " 

"  But  you've  had  your  dinner  haven't  you,  already, 
Bapp  ?  "  said  Mr.  Ruthvon  smilmg. 

"  But  our  Redeemer  didn't  mean  it  that  way,"  replied 
the  quack,  irritably,  his  hat  all  the  while  on  his  head 
and  the  box  in  his  hand.  "I  leave  it  to  you,  but  I  gener- 
ally get  five  dollars  for  a  touch,  and  as  this  is  a  bad 
case,  ten  won't  make  it  work  a  bit  the  worse." 

"  I'll  give  you  the  sacred  number,  seven,  if  it  brings 
the  bvillet  on  the  third  day,  or  sooner." 

"  There  isn't  any  '  if  '  about  it,  and  it  doesn't  do  no 
good  if  no  money  passes  between  us  first,"  limted  Bapp 
gently.  Ruthvon  thereupon  counted  the  seven  dollars 
into  the  witch-doctor's  hand. 

"  Now,"  said  the  former,  "  Doctor  Heifer  is  here  and 


OR,   A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUAEED.  405 

he  may  object  to  another  doctor's  coming  m.  If  so,  of 
course  you  must  give  back  the  money." 

"  They  don't  know  anything,  these  doctors,  and 
they're  jealous  of  me.  It's  all  chance  with  them,  but 
my  remedy  is  sure.  You  must  make  Heifer  consent," 
said  Bapp,  and  his  weazen  face  grew  very  anxious 
when  he  saw  a  possibility  of  being  obliged  to  re- 
fund his  fee.  When  Ruthvon  took  him  up  stairs  he  left 
him  standing  in  the  entry  and  beckoned  Doctor  Heifer 
out  of  the  sick-room.  The  three  then  retired  to  a 
corner  and  in  a  low  voice  Ruthvon  made  known  Bapp's 
errand. 

Now  the  relation  of  the  regular  medical  practitioner 
to  any  one  "  irregular  "  is  much  akin  to  that  of  the  dog- 
to  the  cat :  the  canine  is  ready  to  worry  the  feline  at 
sight.  Heifer  was  no  exception.  He  was  jealous  for 
the  good  name  of  the  divine  art  of  healing,  as  every  true 
physician  should  be. 

"  Ho  !  "  he  exclaimed,  restrained  from  giving  his 
favorite  word  its  strongest  emphasis  only  because  of  the 
surroundings,  "  you  and  all  your  tribe  ought  to  be  in 
jail  and  I  hope  we'll  soon  have  a  law  to  stop  you  hyenas 
from  eating  dead  people.  —  Stone  !  your  grandmother  ! 
David,  to  be  sure  !  By  the  great  Eulenspiegel,  if  David 
could  be  here  and  throw  a  stone  into  the  forehead  of 
every  one  of  you  leeches,  he'd  be  doing  a  better  job  for 
the  world  than  he  did  when  he  killed  big  Goliath."  Not- 
withstanding his  high  hat,  which  he  still  kept  on  his 
head,  Bapp  looked  very  little  mdeed  just  then,  with  the 


406  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR  ; 

doctor  towering  over  him  in  righteous  indignation.  But 
he  stood  his  ground. 

"  You  ain't  been  able,  the  two  of  you,  to  get  out  the 
bullet  and  I  can't  do  no  worse,"  he  said.  "  Besides  I  ain't 
going  to  bore  into  the  poor  young  man's  lungs  as  you 
do,"  and  a  faint  but  triumphant  smile  ht  up  his  pinched 
face. 

"  Doctor,  don't  be  so  cross,"  interposed  Ruth  von 
when  he  saw  that  Heifer  was  about  to  reply  hotly.  "See 
here,"  drawing  him  aside  a  little,  "  there  can  be  no 
harm  I  think  in  his  touching  the  wound  with  the  stone. 
More,  my  mother  has  great  faith  in  Bapp  ever  since  he 
cured  our  roan  horse  and  if  you  refuse  him  and  anything 
should  happen  to  Charlie,  we'll  never  hear  the  last  of  it 
while  she  lives." 

"  All  right,  put  it  on  your  mother,"  replied  the  physi- 
cian gruffly.  "  Of  course  you  don't  believe  in  this 
mule  ?  "  he  continued  semi-interrogatively.  "  If  it  must 
be  so,  I'll  see  he  does  no  harm  with  his  quackery 
and  then  kick  him  down  stairs,  with  my  compliments,  in 
the  most  delicate  manner." 

"  Do  so,  doctor,  —  I  mean  let  him  proceed,"  said 
Ruthvon.  The  doctor  looked  into  the  room.  The 
wounded  man  was  asleep.  Mrs.  Ruthvon  sat  near  the 
bed  but  said  nothing.  The  doctor  then  requested  the 
people  by  the  door  and  in  the  hall  to  go  down  stairs 
awhile,  with  which  request  they  complied  very  reluct- 
antly. 

"  Here,  you  carrion,"  said  Heifer  in  a  loud  whisper  to 


OK,    A   GOLDEN    CIBCLE    SQUARED.  407 

the  witch-doctor,  "  do  you  know  how  to  undo  the  wound 
and  put  on  the  cloths  again?  No,  of  course  not,"  he 
went  on  when  the  quack  stammered  something  in  reply. 
"  You  couldn't  dress  a  cut  finger  or  open  a  pimple,  and 
yet  pretend  to  draw  bullets.  Get  out  I  —  Now,  I'll  lay 
bare  the  wound,  but  if  you  hurt  Charlie  or  wake  him  up 
much,  I'll  throw  you  and  your  box  out  of  the  window." 

They  all  entered  the  room  and  Heifer  very  gently  ex- 
posed the  wound.  Bapp  removed  his  hat  and  took  out 
of  his  box  a  smooth,  white  stone  of  about  half  a  pound 
weight.  Standing  before  the  bed  he  muttered  :  "  Lapis, 
trahe,  juheo  te  P^  Then  he  touched  the  wound  very 
lightly  three  times  with  the  stone.  The  patient  did  not 
wake  but  moaned  a  little  at  the  third  touch. 

"  Off  with  you  now,"  whispered  the  doctor,  impa- 
tiently motioning  Bapp  away. 

"  He  scared  me  so  that  I  could  hardly  say  the  sacred 
words  right,"  said  the  latter  to  Ruth  von  on  returning  to 
the  entry,"  and  my  hand  trembled  so  bad  that  I'm  half 
afraid  that  I  didn't  touch  the  wound  fair  the  third  time 
and  in  that  case  it  may  do  no  good." 

"  Then  you  ought  to  give  back  the  money  or  at  least 
part  of  it,"  said  Ruth  von. 

"  Oh,  that  would  spoil  everything,"  said  the  witch- 
doctor hurriedly,  at  once  taking  his  departure. 

But  the  end  was  not  yet.  Hardly  was  Bapp  fairly 
gone  before  another  character  appeared  on  the  scene  and 
inquired  for  Mr.  Ruthvon.  It  was  "  Dutch  Hen."  He 
was  a  European  German,  and  among  the  Pennsylvania 


408  ENEiHES   IN   THE   REAR; 

Germans  foreign-born  Germans  are  looked  upon  as  being 
considerably  inferior  to  themselves  and  are  called 
"Dutch."  Nevertheless  "Dutch  Hen"  had  a  reputa- 
tion among  the  more  ignorant  of  the  population  for  great 
skill  in  the  occult  sciences  of  making  thieves  return  stolen 
goods,  of  discovering  buried  treasure,  and  of  mixing  love 
potions  and  other  nostrums.  Hence  when  he  came  into 
the  house  such  of  the  visitors  as  yet  remamed  manifested 
renewed  interest  and  delayed  their  departure  in  order  to 
learn  what  he  might  desire  to  do. 

Frederick  Ruthvon  was  informed  of  "  Dutch  Hen's  " 
desire  and  came  down  stairs.  "  Hen  "  said  he  heard  the 
bullet  was  riot  yet  extracted  and  hoped  they  would  have 
nothing  more  to  do  with  Bapp,  whom  he  had  just  met 
out  in  the  lane.  He  had  a  remedy  which,  if  adminis- 
tered to  Charles,  would  bring  the  ball  to  the  surface  in 
twelve  hours.  Years  ago,  he  said,  one  of  the  kings  of 
Saxony  was  wounded  in  the  same  way  exactly.  The 
physicians  could  not  find  the  ball  and  the  king  was  given 
up  to  die.  But  that  day  an  aged  stranger  came,  who 
said  he  had  a  remedy.  Being  required  to  name- it,  he 
did  so.  It  was  administered  to  the  royal  patient  and 
in  twelve  hours  the  ball  appeared  in  the  mouth  of 
the  wound,  and  he  soon  recovered.  "  And  I  have  the 
very  same  remedy,"  said  "  Dutch  Hen "  in  conclu- 
sion. 

Mr.  Ruthvon  asked  what  it  was. 

"It's  three  drops  of  blood,"  answered  "Hen,"  "from 
a  snow-white  dove  descended  from  the  one  Noah  let  out 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  409 

of  the  ark.  I've  got  the  cure  with  me  now  and  for 
twenty  dollars  you  can  have  it." 

This  was  almost  too  much  for  the  credulousness  of 
even  a  Pennsylvania  German.  Yet  Mr.  Rutlivon  felt 
it  his  duty  to  report  the  matter  to  his  wife  and  Doctor 
Heifer,  so  that  if  the  worst  happened,  he  might  have 
nothing  with  which  to  reproach  himself.  The  doctor 
was  vexed  exceedingly  when  informed  of  "  Dutch  Hen's  " 
errand. 

"  So  long  as  this  thing  didn't  interfere  with  the 
safety  of  my  patient  it  didn't  matter  so  much,"  said  he, 
"but  this  so-called  remedy  couldn't  be  given  Charlie  with- 
out disturbing,  and  perhaps  exciting,  him  and  in  his 
present  state  this  might  cause  hemorrhage  and  kill  him; 
and  if  you  let  this  Dutch  pig-dog  use  his  stuff,  I  must 
quit  the  case  and  give  up  all  responsibility,  and  it  may 
easily  prove  that  your  son's  blood  will  be  on  your  hands." 

The  doctor's  words  produced  the  desired  impression. 

"You  must  send  ^  Hen '  away,"  said  Mrs.  Ruthvon 
to  her  husband.  And  it  was  done,  though  the  mounte- 
bank predicted  dire  consequences. 

An  anxious  night  began.  The  watchers  and  one  or 
two  neighbors  alone  remained.  The  parents  seldom 
left  the  bedside  of  their  child,  and  Mr.  and  JNIrs.  Chet- 
wynde  were  indefatigable  in  their  attention,  notwith- 
standing their  anxiety  on  Clinton's  account.  Catharine 
remained  with  Blanche,  and  until  long  after  midnight 
at  short  intervals  the  two  went  from  their  room  to  the 
door  of  the  sick-room  to  inquire  about  Charles. 


410  ENEMIES   IN   THE   HEAR. 

Early  in  the  evening  Doctor  Heifer  went  away  for  an 
hour  or  two  to  see  a  few  patients  urgently  needing  his 
attention.  Blanche  met  him  below  on  his  return.  Her 
pale  face  and  anxious  look  almost  startled  him. 

"  Oh,  Doctor  Heifer,  will  he  live  ?  Will  he  live  ?  You 
must  save  him  !  "  she  said,  and  burst  into  bitter  weep- 
ing. 

"  Keep  up  courage,"  he  said  as  cheerily  as  he  could. 
"  Charlie  comes  of  good  stock  and  has  lots  of  life  in 
him  yet." 

When  the  doctor  resumed  his  watch  Frederick  Ruth- 
von  went  home  for  a  few  moments.  He  unlocked  a 
desk  in  his  sleeping-room  and  took  out  of  it  a  paper 
which  he  carried  to  the  kitchen.  There  he  placed  it  on 
the  fire  in  the  stove  and  watched  it  carefully  and  with 
intense  satisfaction  until  it  was  consumed,  after  Avhich 
he  returned  to  Jabez  Chetwynde's. 

"  Squire  Zweispringer's  hope  is  realized,"  he  said  in  a 
low  voice  to  his  wife. 

"  I  don't  understand  you." 

"  That  will  is  burnt  to  ashes." 

"  Thank  God  !  Dear  I^ord  Jesus,  spare  my  poor  boy  !" 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


OCCULT    REMEDIES. 


Slowly  the  night  wore  away  and  a  cloudy,  dull  morn- 
ing dawned.  The  rain  had  ceased,  but  at  nine  o'clock 
it  began  to  descend  in  torrents  again.  Nevertheless 
promptly  at  ten  Doctor  Goettman  drove  into  the  yard. 
Doctor  Heifer  had  sought  in  every  way  to  augment  the 
captain's  strength  for  the  operation  which  would  prob- 
ably decide  the  issue,  whether  of  life  or  of  death,  and 
when  Goettman  had  examined  him  he  pronounced  him 
in  excellent  condition  —  the  pulse  good  and  the  eye 
bright. 

"  Yes,  doctor,  it  is  all  right  now,  I'm  father's  boy 
again,"  said  Charles  smiling  on  his  father  who  stood  at 
the  foot  of  the  bed  "  And  tell  her  I  am  going  to  get 
well,"  he  added.  The  two  physicians  now  began  the 
second  examination.  Doctor  Goettman's  educated,  skill- 
ful touch  discovered  the  ball  somewhat  deeply  lodged 
in  a  tumefied  spot  near  the  upper  angle  of  the  shoulder- 
blade.  To  cut  down  in  that  situation  and  extract  the 
missile  was  the  work  of  a  comparatively  short  time, 
but  in  consequence  of  the  congested  state  of  the  blood- 
vessels surromidmg  the  injured  parts  there  was  much 
hemorrhage,  and  when  the  operation  was  ended  the 
patient  was  very  much  exhausted.     Before  leaving,  Doc- 


412  EISTEMIES    IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

tor  Goettman,  to  whom  Heifer  had  given  a  brief  account 
of  yesterday's  experiences,  gave  strict  orders  to  the 
attendants. 

"  Anything  exciting  will  tend  to  produce  fresh  hem- 
orrhages and  these  and  inflammation  are  now  to  be 
dreaded  most.  She,  whoever  she  is,  must  not  see  him 
at  present." 

In  the  afternoon  the  weather  cleared  and  many  vis- 
itors came,  some  from  a  distance  of  eight  miles.  Curi- 
osity brought  most  of  them ;  others  were  moved  by 
avarice,  for  several  quacks  and  impostors,  each  with  a 
sovereign  remedy,  offered  their  services  to  Mr.  Ruthvon, 
but  in  view  of  the  doctor's  injunction  they  received  no 
countenance  and  trudged  off  to  Mehlhuber's  mill,  where 
it  was  known  Jake  Zellon's  body  lay  waiting  to  be 
claimed  by  his  friends.  There  were  not  wanting  neigh- 
bors, however,  who  were  sincerely  desirous  that  some- 
thing out  of  the  ordinary  might  be  done  to  save  the 
young  soldier's  life  One  good  old  lady  said  that  a  cer- 
tain decoction  made  by  boiling  in  water  nme  kinds  of 
Ciekrceuter  or  herbs  which  she  named,  was  an  infallible 
remedy  for  all  kinds  of  bleedings  and  should  be  given  to 
the  patient  at  once.  When  the  doctor  objected,  she 
turned  away  with  a  sigh  saying,  "  Wie  mer's  macht,  so 
hot  mer's!  "*  Later,  when  Heifer  went  away  for  a  few 
hours,  she  began  anew  to  extol  the  virtues  of  her  cure. 
It  could  be  administered,  she  said,  and  the  doctor  be 
none  the  wiser,  but  Mrs.  Ruthvon,  to  her  great  disgust, 

•As  one  does,  so  one  has  it;  i.  e.,  as  you  sow,  so  you  reap. 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  413 

declared  that  at  this  critical  stance  nothins;  must  be  done 
without  the  consent  of  the  physician. 

A  young  woman  suggested  that  horse-shoes  should  be 
nailed  over  the  door  of  the  room  where  Charles  lay. 
Ret  Prantman,  she  hinted,  had  been  there  three  times, 
and  Ret  hated  him. 

"■And  I  ain't  at  all  sure,"  said  she,  '^  that  Ret  don't 
know  more  than  she  ought  to  about  certain  things 
maybe  one  better  not  speak  of  much,"  but  neither  was 
her  suggestion  followed. 

Po^^^wowing  Avas  not  without  eloquent  advocates  but 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ruthvon  were  resolute,  and  not  a  few  said 
that  this  refusal  to  use  good  old  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
remedies  was  due  to  the  influence  of  these  English  Yan- 
kees, who  thought  they  knew  everything  but  could  not 
even  talk  Dutch.  "  Well,"  said  one  of  these  pleaders 
for  occult  remedies  with  a  spiteful  toss  of  her  head,  "  if 
they  won't  hear  and  he  dies,  let  him  die ;  we  ain't  to 
blame,"  which  was  highly  comforting  to  all  concerned. 

The  limit  of  Doctor  Heifer's  patience  was  almost 
reached  when,  on  coming  back  from  the  village,  Chris- 
topher Stettler,  who  had  been  gulled  out  of  many  a  hard- 
earned  dollar  but  whose  faith  had  increased  in  direct 
proportion  to  his  losses,  asked  him  whether  it  would  not 
be  a  good  plan  to  consult  Katrina  Galsch.  She  had 
wonderful  knowledge  and  could  surely  point  out  the 
proper  means  to  cure  the  captain. 

•    "  Ho  !  "  said  he,  for  emphasis  supplementing  the  inter- 
jection with  a  word  not  found  m  the  canon,  '■'■  Stettler, 


414  ENEMIES  nsr  the  reab; 

if  you  were  not  an  old  man  I'd  put  yon  ont  of  the 
house. —  Now,  Mr.  Chetwynde,  I  give  orders  that  any 
person  who  hereafter  even  suggests  any  tomfoolery  in 
regard  to  Charles  Ruthvon  shall  at  once  be  chased  out 
of  this  house.     I  hope  you  all  hear  me." 

"  It  shall  be  done,"  answered  Chetwynde,  though  he 
could  not  forbear  smiling  at  the  doctor's  earnestness. 
He  had  been  considerably  annoyed  by  these  people,  but 
as  the  patient  was  only  a  guest  and  these  things  were 
regarded  as  matters  of  course,  courtesy  had  kept  him 
from  betraying  his  annoyance. 

Another  anxious  night  passed.  Tuesday  came  in 
clear  and  cold,  but  Charles  was  much  worse.  There 
were  several  hemorrhages  early  in  the  morning  and  he 
was  very  low  indeed.  Yet  he  was  happy  —  happy 
because  his  father  was  reconciled  to  him  again. 

"  I  want  to  live,  for  your  sake  and  for  her  sake,"  he 
said  faintly  to  his  parents  and  sister,  "  but  I  am  content. 
Our  dear  Lord  God  does  all  things  well."  They  could 
only  silently  weep.  Toward  noon  Goettman  and  Heifer 
held  a  consultation.  They  agreed  that  if  there  was  no 
change  for  the  better  by  next  morning,  the  chances  of 
recovery  were  very  few. 

In  the  afternoon  Grandmother  Ruthvon  came.  Thus 
far  on  various  pleas  they  had  persuaded  her  to  be  con- 
tent, but  now  she  insisted  on  coming.  She  must  see 
Charles.  On  entering  his  room  she  began  to  lament, 
yet  her  presence,  instead  of  exciting,  soothed  her  grand- 
son. 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CmCLE    SQUARED.  415 

"  I  knew  all  last  week  something  bad  was  going  to 
happen,"  she  said.  "  Something  killed  our  black  rooster 
on  Smiday  night  before,  and  that's  a  sure  sign  some- 
thing bad  is  going  to  happen  that  week,  and  I  told  them 
so  and  you  see  it  is  so.  But,  my  dear  child,"  she  continued, 
stroking  his  forehead  and  hair  with  the  tenderest  affec- 
tion, "  you'll  get  well,  for  God  told  me  so  in  a  dream 
last  night." 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  her  words  carried  hope  to  the 
hearts  of  these  parents.  They  believed  she  possessed 
the  gift  of  second-sight.  Gently  they  persuaded  her  to 
leave  the  room  at  last.  But  toward  evening  she  over- 
heard the  doctor  say  that  there  were  symptoms  of 
"  Wild  Feuer "  or  erysipelas  about  Charles'  wound. 
These  tidings  excited  her  very  much.  Nothing  would 
help  in  such  cases,  she  declared,  but  shovel  and  fire,  and 
she  must  b ranch  at  once.     Remonstrance  was  vain. 

"  The  wild-fire  will  spread  all  over  and  kill  my  poor 
boy  in  three  days,"  she  said  in  piteous  accents.  "  You 
know  I  can  always  cure  it.  You  must  let  me  pow- 
wow." 

Doctor  Heifer  finally  agreed  to  let  her  have  her  way. 
"  The  fire  is  soothing,"  said  he,  though  with  a  wry  face, 
''  and  I  think  he's  often  seen  her  do  this  thing.  But  by 
the  great  Eulenspiegel,  if  it  was  anybody  but  grand- 
mother !  " 

An  iron  pot  with  glowing  wood  coals  was  brought 
into  the  room.  Then  the  old  lady,  a  cap  as  white  as 
snow  on  her  head,  took  a  small  fire-shovel  and  filled  it 


416  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR. 

with  coals  from  the  pot.  This  she  held  over  Charles' 
breast,  about  a  foot  from  the  body,  for  a  moment,  after 
which  she  slowly  passed  it  back  over  his  head,  at  the 
same  time  saying  in  solemn,  measured  tones  — 

"  Feuer,  zieg,  zieg,  zieg! 
"Wild  Feuer,  flieg,  flieg,  flieg! 
Im  Hoechste  Name!  "* 

This  operation  she  repeated  three  times,  each  time 
using  fresh  coals  and  saying  the  same  words.  Through 
it  all  grandmother  looked  as  innocent  and  good  as  the 
best  saint  in  the  calendar  ever  did,  and  was  as  sincere. 

"Now  it  will  be  healed,'"  she  said  with  evident  satis- 
faction when  she  had  ended  her  conjuration.  Doctor 
Heifer  gave  vent  to  a  sigh  of  relief  but  said  nothing. 
Charles  had  fallen  asleep  and  no  harm  was  done. 
Grandmother  returned  home  to  Sallie  Vonneida  in  Tom 
Hartnagel's  care  contented  and  happy. 

Late  in  the  evening  Charles  became  still  worse.  His 
breathing  was  rapid  and  his  mind  preternaturally  clear. 
Without,  the  stars  shone  as  calmly  and  beautifully  as 
when  the  angels  over  Bethlehem's  plain  sung  their  grand 
doxology  at  the  Wondrous  Birth,  but  within  the  Chet- 
wynde  home  were  anxious  hearts.  For  what  might  not 
the  night  bring  forth  ? 

*"  Fire,  draw,  draw,  draw! 

Wild  tire,  flee,  flee,  flee! 

In  the  Highest  Name !  " 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

LOVE   AND   HATE. 

Sorrow  softens  many  a  stony  heart  when  eloquent  ap- 
peals and  earnest  pleadings  have  failed.  Affliction 
sweeps  away  prejudices  which  the  strongest  arguments 
only  confirmed,  and  changes  habits  of  thought  and 
action  supposed  to  be  as  the  everlasting  hills  themselves. 
The  tear  of  distress  is  a  mighty  solvent.  A  heart-pang, 
felt  when  the  prospect  of  a  sundering  of  the  golden- 
threaded  cord  that  binds  heart  to  heart  seems  just  at 
hand,  makes  cobwebs  of  the  thick-walled  fortress  of  con- 
servatism and  tradition  and  levels  it  with  the  ground. 

Frederick  Ruthvon  was  incased  with  inherited  behefs 
and  notions.  To  these  his  son  had  gone  counter  and  so 
long  as  Charles  was  well  he  could  banish  him  from  his 
home  and,  as  he  believed,  from  his  heart.  But  a  bullet 
pierced  the  bosom  of  his  child.  An  instant  revulsion  of 
feeling  followed  and  parental  affection  was  overmaster- 
mg.  In  the  face  of  this  calamity  the  things  for  which 
he  had  driven  Charles  from  his  door  and  withdrawn  his 
love  dwmdled  into  insignificance.  What  he  felt  on  his 
way  to  Mr.  Chetwynde's  house  on  Saturday  night  only 
those  can  understand  who  have  had  a  similar  experience. 
They  can  appreciate  his  words  :  "I  have  nothmg  to  for- 
give.    You  are  still  my  son,  my  only  son." 


418  ENEMIES   EST  THE   REAR; 

Calm  reflection  during  the  first  day  of  alixious  watch- 
ing but  deepened  the  channel  in  which  his  thoughts  and 
feelings  had  begun  to  run.  He  realized  that  he  had  done 
injustice  to  his  wife  and  daughter  as  well  as  to  Charles. 
He  felt  sure  that  his  convictions  were  not  so  precious 
that  they  must  be  followed  at  the  expense  of  broken 
hearts.     He  was  ready  for  the  burning  of  the  will. 

Moreover,  he  now  saw  more  of  his  Yankee  neighbor 
and  of  his  family  than  he  had  in  all  the  years  before. 
He  observed  how  anxious  they  were,  he  heard  the  kind 
words  they  spoke.  He  himself  could  not  handle  Charles 
more  tenderly  than  Jabez  Chetwynde  did,  Mrs.  Ruth- 
von  could  hardly  be  more  attentive  to  him  than  Mrs. 
Chetwynde  was,  brothers  could  scarcely  have  manifested 
more  affection  for  him  than  Clinton  and  Frank  were  do- 
ing. Surely  these  people,  he  concluded,  could  not  be  filled 
with  prejudice  and  hate  against  those  who  might  differ 
with  them  politically.  In  striking  contrast  were  they 
with  the  Prantmans  and  many  other  neighbors.  Need 
he  wonder  that  Charles  had  been  drawn  to  the  Chet- 
wyndes  or  that  he  had  formed  a  deep  attachment  to 
Blanche  ?  He  remembered  too,  how  the  latter  had  re- 
fused to  plight  her  troth  to  the  son,  because  the  father 
would  not  yield  his  consent  to  their  union.  His  native 
good  sense  led  him  to  perceive  more  fully  what  he  had 
already  partly  confessed,  that  she  must  possess  wonder- 
ful firmness  and  decision  of  character.  And  when  he 
saw  the  marks  of  grief  in  her  countenance  and  manner 
and  wa-s  sure  that  they  were  the  index  to  the  unspoken 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED,  419 

sorrow  of  her  wounded  breast,  his  own  heart  went  out 
to  her. 

On  Tuesday  night  when  Charles  became  worse  there 
were  present  in  the  room  his  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chetwynde  and  Doctor  Heifer.  Since  the  night  of  the 
shooting  Blanche  had  not  seen  her  lover,  except  once 
when  he  was  asleep.  But  now  he  asked  for  her  and  his 
mind  could  not  be  diverted  from  her. 

"  Tell  Blanche  I  want  to  see  her." 

Doctor  HeKer  whispered  to  him  and  tried  to  soothe 
him,  but  without  avail. 

"  I  must  see  her  now,"  he  persisted.  The  doctor  was 
perplexed.  An  interview  at  this  crisis  might  prove  very 
serious ;  to  refuse  it  might  be  more  dangerous  still.  To 
his  great  surprise  Mr.  Ruth  von  said :  "  Let  her  come 
in,  Doctor  Heifer."  He  hesitated  no  longer,  but  went 
himself  to  inform  Blanche  of  her  wounded  lover's  desire, 
and  prepare  her  for  the  interview. 

"Is  Charlie  very  sick?  —  is  he  worse?"  was  her 
startled  inquiry. 

"I  think  it  may  do  him  good  to  see  you,"  he  replied 
evasively,  and  his  voice  trembled  a  little.  With  pale 
face  and  fluttering  heart  she  entered  the  room,  and  Avhen 
she  saw  the  haggard  features  of  him  who  was  now  doubly 
dear  to  her  it  required  all  her  fortitude  to  keep  herself 
from  falling.  Frederick  Ruthvon  did  not  say  a  word, 
but  advancing  to  her,  took  her  right  hand,  led  her  up  to 
the  bedside  and  gently  placed  it  in  the  right  hand  of  his 
son,  after  which  he  resumed  his  former    position.     No 


420  EISTEMIES    TN   THE   EEAR  ; 

words  were  needed ;  all  understood  the  action  perfectly. 
Blanche  bent  down  and  kissed  her  lover. 

"  I  keep  my  promise,  Charlie,"  she  said.  "  I  am  yours 
forever,  darling.  Oh  !  Charlie,  you  must  not  die.  God 
will  spare  you,"  and  she  buried  her  face  in  the  pillow 
and  Avept. 

"  I  am  willing  to  die  now  if  it  be  God's  will,"  he  re- 
plied, "  but  I  have  so  much  to  live  for  I  am  going  to  get 
well.      Grandmother  knew  it." 

"  The  dear  Lord  God  will  spare  you,  my  child,"  said 
his  mother  coming  up  to  the  bed  and  smoothing  his  fore- 
head as  when  he  was  a  babe.  Jabez  Chetwynde  and 
his  wife  were  deeply  moved  by  the  scene. 

"  May  God's  blessing  rest  ujDon  the  children,"  said 
Jabez  in  deep,  earnest  accents.  And  it  did.  Charles 
Ruthvon  and  Blanche  Chetwynde  were  betrothed  and 
their  betrothal  was  sealed  in  heaven. 

Doctor  HeKer  went  up  to  Ruthvon,  senior,  who  still 
stood  in  the  same  spot,  and  shook  hands  with  him 
heartily. 

"  Ruthvon,"  said  he,  "  you  are  an  honest  man  and  I 
esteem  you  highly."  Turning  to  the  bed,  he  directed 
all  conversation  to  cease  as  Charles  must  sleep.  Blanche 
withdrew  and  presently  all  was  hushed  in  the  room. 

"VVe  are  told  on  excellent  authority  that  Satan  when 
expelled  from  heaven  entered  even  the  garden  of  Eden, 
and  tradition  adds  that  when  God  brought  to  Adam  the 
woman  he  had  made  and  the  man  was  filled  with  ecstatic 


OR,     A    GOLDEX    CIKCLE    SQUARED.  421 

joy  at  the  gift,  the  Evil  One  stood  a  little  way  off  and 
gloated  fiendishly  in  anticipation  of  the  ruin  he  would 
work.  So  too,  when  the  scene  just  described  was  trans- 
piring in  the  sick-chamber  a  being  filled  with  hate  and 
envy  was  close  at  hand.  Margaret  Prantman's  eyes  saw 
part  of  it  and  her  vigilant  ears  heard  all  that  was  said. 
Since  the  affray  of  Saturday  evening  she  had  come  two 
or  three  times  daily  to  Mr.  Chetwynde's  house  and  had 
exercised  the  freedom  common  in  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
communities  in  homes  Avhere  there  are  sick  persons.  She 
seemed  to  have  a  morbid  curiosity  in  the  captain's  case. 
To-night  she  came  over  and  inquired  about  Charles  as 
usual.  She  sat  by  the  stove  in  the  kitchen  with  a  num- 
ber of  other  neighbors.  Leaving  the  group  whilst  they 
were  in  conversation  about  this  and  that,  she  went  out 
into  the  hall  and  up  the  stair-way,  just  as  she  and  others 
had  done  before.  When  she  reached  the  door  of  the 
room  where  Charles  lay  —  a  moment  after  Blanche  and 
Doctor  Heifer  had  entered — she  found  it  half  open. 
Hearing  voices,  she  peered  and  listened,  and  saw  and 
heard  what  has  been  related.  She  gnashed  her  teeth 
and  almost  choked  Avith  rage,  but  when  Heifer  spoke  she 
quickly  descended  the  stairs '  and  went  back  into  the 
kitchen. 

Several  of  the  neighbors  said  they  would  remain  until 
toward  morning  as  their  services  might  be  needed  and 
Miss  Prantman  remarked  that  she  might  as  well  stay 
also  until  it  was  time  to  milk  the  cows,  because  her  folks 
were  all  in  bed  by  this  time  and  would  not  expect  her 


422  ENEMIES    EST   THE   REAR; 

home  anyhow  before  milking  time.  So  the  fire  was 
renewed  and  all  settled  down  for  the  broken  rest  peculiar 
to  the  circumstances. 

The  night  wore  on.  After  midnight  Charles  rested 
easy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rnthvon,  weary  with  anxiety  and 
constant  watching,  on  the  insistence  of  Mr.  Chetwynde 
had  lain  down  to  secure  needed  rest.  The  doctor  had 
retired  to  the  next  room  to  snatch  a  little  sleep,  and  Mr. 
Chetwynde  was  left  alone  with  the  sick  man.  While 
quietly  keeping  vigil  the  door  was  pushed  open  softly 
and  Ret  Prantman  came  in  on  tiptoe.  He  looked  at  her 
in  some  surprise  but  said  nothing.  She  took  a  chair  on 
the  far  side  of  the  room  from  the  bed  and  assumed  the 
air  of  a  patient  watcher,  and  for  a  long  time  they  sat 
like  statues.  Then  Charles  stirred  and  spoke  in  a  low 
voice.  Mr.  Chetwynde  arose  hastily  and  stooped  over 
the  bed  to  catch  his  words.  At  the  same  moment  Ret 
stepped  to  the  small  stand  on  which  stood  a  number  of 
tumblers  containing  medicine.  Mr.  Chetwynde  turned 
to  get  a  drink  for  Charles  and  detected  the  woman  in  the 
very  act  of  pouring  into  one  of  the  vessels  a  white  pow- 
der from  a  small  piece  of  paper. 

"  What  are  you  doing.  Miss  Prantman  ?  "  he  asked  ex- 
citedly, rushing  up  to  her.  But  she  was  too  quick  for 
him.  Seeing  herself  detected  she  swept  the  glass  to  the 
carpet  with  her  hand,  breaking  it  and  spilling  all  its  con- 
tents. He  seized  her  arm  and  in  his  anger  squeezed  it 
so  tight  that  a  cry  of  pain  escaped  her.  Heifer 
heard    the    noise    and   came   hurrying  into   the   room. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  423 

He  was  quite  bewildered  at  the  scene  that  met  his 
gaze. 

"  This  woman  has  been  interfering  with  your  medi- 
cines," said  Chetwynde  still  holding  Ret  by  the  arm  and 
every  few  momeiits  giving  her  a  shake. 

"  Charlie,  lie  right  still,  it's  nothing,  lie  still,"  said 
Heifer  Avhile  Chetwynde  in  a  low  whisper  told  him 
what  he  had  seen. — "•  Wait  a  moment  now,  Chetwynde." 
He  left  the  room  and  presently  returned  with  Mr.  Ruth- 
von  whom  he  requested  to  remain  with  Charles.  Mr. 
Ruthvon  stared  but  asked  no  questions. 

"Now  brmg  her  out  of  the  room,"  said  the  doctor  to 
Chetwynde.  When  they  were  in  the  entry  he  closed 
the  door  and  took  up  the  lamp  standing  there. 

"  Tell  us  now,"  said  he  turning  on  Ret  and  speaking 
gruffly,  "  what  you  put  into  the  tumbler  or  else  off  you 
go  to  jail  to-night  yet,  you  Deihenker  you  !  " 

"  It  was  only  a  love  powder,"  she  pleaded  thoroughly 
frightened.  "  I  wanted  to  make  him  love  me.  Let  me 
go  and  ril  never  come  here  again." 

"  But  what  did  the  powder  contain  ?  "  persisted  the 
doctor. 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  Where  did  you  get  it  ?  " 

"From  '  Dutch  Hen,'  and  I  gave  four  dollars  for  it." 

"  Do  you  know  that  by  examination  we  can  find  out 
what  the  powder  was  ? "  But  by  this  time  Ret  had 
gathered  up  her  wits  again,  and  hate  resumed  its 
throne. 


424  ENEMIES   nST   THE   REAR  ; 

"  Do  it  then,"  she  replied  spitefully. 

"  She  upset  the  glass  and  broke  it,  doctor,"  said 
Chetwynde. 

"  See  to  her  a  moment,"  he  answered.  He  went  back 
into  the  room  and  examined  the  fragments  of  the 
tumbler  and  the  spots  made  by  the  liquid  on  the  carpet. 
The  latter  had  absorbed  the  contents  of  the  vessel  so 
completely  that  he  concluded  it  would  be  difficult  to 
discover  from  the  remains  what  Ret  had  put  into  the 
medicine.  Nevertheless  he  determined  if  possible  to 
frighten  her  into  a  confession.  She  quickly  perceived 
even  by  the  dim  light  of  the  lamp  that  his  examination 
had  proved  unsatisfactory  and  an  unwholesome  smile 
flittad  across  her  face. 

"  There's  enough  of  the  stuff  left  on  the  carpet  to  tell 
what  you  put  in  the  tumbler,"  he  said  assuming  an  air 
of  confidence. 

"  Is  that  so?  Then  what  was  it?  "  she  asked  taunt- 
ingly. 

"  Poison  !  "  he  replied.     "  Rat-poison  !  " 

"  And  you  lie,  you  devil  you  !  "  she  hissed  back. 

"  And  we'll  make  '  Dutch  Hen  '  tell  too  what  was  in 
the  powder." 

'■'•  It's  all  right,"  she  said  with  a  sneer.  The  doctor 
was  nonplused  but  kept  a  bold  front. 

"  Turn  her  out  of  the  house  at  once,"  he  said  to  Chet- 
wynde. "  I'll  see  to  her  in  the  morning.  She  must 
never  be  allowed  to  come  into  this  house  again." 

"  I'll  make  you  prove  what  you  said  and  you'll  hear 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  425 

from  Pete  too,"  she  snarled  as  she  went  down  the  stairs. 
Mr.  Chetwynde  accompanied  her  to  the  kitchen.  She 
put  on  her  shawl  and  "•  Shaker  "  hat  and  left  the  house. 
Those  in  the  kitchen  wondered  at  her  sudden  departure 
and  the  Yankee's  flustered  appearance  but  nothing  was 
vouchsafed  them. 

"  She's  a  devil,  so  help  me  Schlnnerhannes  !  "  said  the 
doctor  to  Mr.  Chetwynde  whom  he  met  in  the  upper 
hall  on  his  return  from  the  kitchen.  "I  haven't  the 
least  doubt  she  put  arsenic  in  that  medicine." 

'^  It's  hard  to  believe  she  is  that  bad,"  responded  Chet- 
wynde. "  Perhaps  after  all  it  was  only  what  she  calls  a 
love  powder." 

The  doctor  shook  his  head  dubiously.  "  I  believe  I  am 
riglit,"  said  he.  And  he  was.  Subsequent  inquiry 
showed  that  "  Dutch  Hen "  had  not  furnished  the 
potion.  Hate,  not  love,  had  actuated  Margaret  Prant- 
man.  The  powder  was  ratsbane  and  if  the  intended 
victim  had  received  but  a  third  of  it,  his  end  would  have 
been  speedy.  But  no  effort  was  made  to  prove  her 
guilt.  One  good  thing  resulted,  however :  never  after- 
wards did  she  come  to  Mr.  Chetwynde's  house  or  to 
Frederick  Ruthvon's. 

In  the  morning  Mr.  Ruthvon  was  fully  informed  of 
the  occurrence.  He  did  not  say  a  word  in  reply  but  his 
countenance  became  very  grave.  Not  for  long,  how- 
ever. The  joy  in  his  heart  caused  it  to  light  up  quickly 
again,  and  Ret  Prantman  Avas  forgotten.  Charles  was 
better,  much  better,  Doctor  Heifer  said.     The  symptoms 


426    ,  ENEJVUES  nsr  the  reak  ; 

of  erysipelas  had  all  disappeared  and  the  pulse  and 
breathing  were  more  natural.  When  Doctor  Goettman 
came  and  examined  the  patient  he  smiled  all  over  his 
face. 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  said  he  biting  his  cigar-stub  vigor- 
ously.     "  There  is  a  wonderful  improvement." 

After  the  consultation  was  ended  he  informed  Mr. 
Ruthvon  that  unless  sent  for  he  need  not  come  again,  as 
Doctor  Heifer  covdd  manage  the  case  nicely  alone  now. 

"  Has  she  seen  him  yet  ?  "  he  asked  his  colleague  who 
accompanied  him  through  the  door-yard  to  his  carriage. 

"  She  has,"  answered  HeKer  —  "saw  him  last  night 
when  I  believed  it  would  be  for  the  last  time  alive,  and 
I'm  willing  to  give  love  a  good  share  of  the  credit  for 
his  improved  condition  this  morning.  " 

"  Say,  you  Heifer,  is  this  Yankee's  daughter  the 
one  ?  "  asked  Goettman  with  sudden  interest. 

"  Lean  on  that ! "  replied  Heifer  and  then  gave  the 
other  an  account  of  the  betrothal  of  Charles  and 
Blanche. 

"  No  wonder  he's  better,  by  Esculapius  !  "  exclaimed 
Goettman.  "  He'll  get  well,  sure  ;  if  he  don't,  he's  a 
big  fool." 

"  But  if  another  woman  had  had  her  way  last  night, 
I'm  afraid  even  love  couldn't  have  saved  Charlie,"  said 
Heifer. 

"Is  it  possible?"  cried  Goettman  when  Heifer  fin- 
ished his  narration  of  Ret  Prantman's  attempt. — "  The 
water    carried    the    stuff  into  the    carpet    and    I    don't 


OR,    A   GOLDEN    CIECLE    SQUARED.  427 

believe  it  could  be  successfully  analyzed,"  he  continued 
after  he  had  gone  back  into  the  house  and  examined  the 
spots  on  the  carpet. 

"•  Ruthvon  won't  do  anything  about  it,  he's  too  happy 
to  think  of  it,"  said  Heifer  when  they  returned  to  the 
yard.  "  Besides,  she  won't  trouble  us  any  more,  and  if 
she  should  come  back  here  I'll  kick  her  out  of  the  house 
as  sure  as  my  name  is  Henry  Heifer." 

"  And  may  the  blessing  of  Esculapius  rest  upon  you 
for  it,"  responded  Goettman  with  hearty  emphasis. 
"  Good-bye.    If  anything  serious  develops,  let  me  know." 

From  this  time  Charles  continued  to  improve  rapidly. 
In  three  weeks  from  the  time  he  was  wounded  he  was 
able  to  be  taken  home,  and  in  due  season  he  received  a 
two  months'  leave  of  absence  from  his  command,  dated 
from  the  expiration  of  his  furlough. 

Winter  had  come,  but  never  in  the  brightest  June 
had  the  Ruthvon  home  been  as  bright  and  happy  as  it 
now  was.  It  need  not  be  said  that  Susie  Zweispringer 
was  happy  too.  Next  to  Clinton  Chetwynde  and  her 
father  she  loved  Blanche. 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  it  would  all  come  right  yet  ?  "  said 
she  to  the  latter  in  her  enthusiastic  way.  "  Old  Ruth- 
von is  a  man  of  sense  after  all,  and  I  really  believe'  he 
always  thought  a  lot  of  you  but  wanted  to  be  contrary, 
for  he  said  the  other  day  to  papa  that  a  nicer  and  better 
girl  than  the  Yankee's  daughter  couldn't  be  found." 
Blanche  blushed  but  her  friend's  words  were  precious  to 
her. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

TTNCLE  SAM  CAPTURES  AN  UNWILLING  NEPHEW. 

Philip  Huber  proved  right  again.  For  when  the  first 
furlough  of  the  drafted  men  expired,  they  were  granted 
a  second  for  the  same  length  of  time. 

Our  government,  unlike  monarchies,  does  not  regard 
men  as  "  food  for  powder  "  or  as  created  merely  '•'■  to 
serve  rulers."  Hence,  so  far  as  possible,  it  accommo- 
dates itself  to  the  comfort  and  welfare  even  of  those 
upon  whom  it  Avay  call  for  service  in  time  of  war.  The 
second  furlough  was  given  in  order  that  all  the  drafted 
men  might  have  ample  time  to  set  their  affairs  at  home 
in  proper  order.  But  it  was  needful  that  the  militia 
should  now  be  drilled  and  made  acquainted  with  the 
requirements  of  military  life  ;  when  the  additional  five 
days  ended  no  further  leave  of  absence  was  granted,  and 
about  November  3rd  the  men  of  Berks  and  Lehigh 
Counties  went  into  camp  a  little  north  of  Reading. 

Among  the  few  who  failed  to  report  for  duty  was 
Hans  Prantman's  foster-son  When  he  parted  from 
Jake  Zellon  on  the  night  of  the  outrage  at  Chetwynde's 
residence  he  made  his  way  to  Mehlhuber's  mill.  He 
ate  an  early  breakfast  at  the  house  after  which,  as  we 
have  seen,  he  took  to  the  mountains.  He  had  a  relative 
—  his  mother's  aunt  —  who  lived  in  a  lonely  glen  among 


OE,   A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUARED.  429 

the  Blue  Mountains  in  Dauphin  County,  whom  he  had 
visited  two  or  three  years  before,  and  after  nightfall  he 
started  thither  on  foot.  He  reached  the  end  of  his 
journey  late  on  the  following  day,  footsore  and  weary 
and  was  kindly  received  by  Mrs.  Schweinfort.  But 
when  he  had  hunted  and  fished  a  day  or  two  time  began 
to  hang  heavy  on  his  hands  and  he  ventured  to  go  to  a 
solitary  mountain  station  on  the  Daupliin  and  Susque- 
hanna Railroad.     Hei-e  his  eye  fell  on  a  copy  of  "  The 

,    published    at    Pottsville.       He  could    read 

Enghsh  quite  poorly  but  he  picked  up  the  newspaper 
and  presently  found  an  item  that  interested  him  very 
much.      It  ran  as  follows  : 

"As  we.  go  to  press  we  learn  that  Captain  Charles  Ruthvon,  who 
it  will  be  remembered  was  shot  by  Jake  Zellon  last  Saturday  night 
at  the  home  of  Jabez  Chetwynde,  in  Copton  township,  Berks  County, 
is  still  living  but  thaD  his  recovery  is  considered  doubtful.  Also,  ihat 
the  assailant's  body  has  been  claimed  by  his  friends,  that  Andrevf 
Pfannkuchen,  another  principal  in  the  affair,  is  out  on  bail  and  that 
James  Fetzer,  who  was  one  of  the  cowardly  gang,  is  still  at  laige. 
We  hope  to  be  able  to  give  fuller  particulars  soon." 

He  laid  down  the  paper  and  went  back  to  his  grand- 
aunt's  house,  where  he  remained  in  seclusion  for  over  a 
week,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  determined  to 
return  to  his  old  haunts.  He  knew  the  clanger  attend- 
ing such  a  course,  yet  was  impelled  to  do  it  by  a  power 
he  could  not  resist.  Charles  Darnay  was  no  more 
surely  drawn  to  the  Loadstone  Rock  of  Paris  by  an  un- 
seen force  than  was  James  Fetzer  back  to  Copton  to^vn." 
ship    by    the    same    invisible,    intangible    agency.      He 


430  ENEMIES   IN   THE   BEAR  ; 

reached  home  at  night  and  was  admitted,  but  his  re- 
ception was  very  cool.  Hans  Prantraan  was  alarmed  by 
the  events  of  the  past  few  weeks.  He  was  unwilling  to 
take  unnecessary  risks.      Self  was  always  first. 

"  Jim,  I  think  you'd  better  go  off  awhile  yet,"  said  he 
to  his  protege  next  morning.  "  T  don't  believe  there'll 
be  any  trouble,  but  a  body  can't  always  generally  some- 
times tell.  You  know  the  Lincolners  is  much  excited 
over  that  there  Ruthvon  thing  and  if  the  Hartnagel  pig 
should  see  you  he'd  sell  you  for  a  dollar.  Besides,  I'm  told 
there's  a  fine  for  harboring  them  that  hasn't  reported." 

"But  you  know  your  oath  as  a  Knight,  pap,"  pro- 
tested James. 

"  Well,  but  one  can't  take  that  just  that  way."  an- 
swered Hans  evasively. 

"  A  devilish  nice  Circle,"  said  Fetzer  irritably  ;  "  it 
promised  all  sorts  of  things  and  here  you  tell  me  its 
drafted  members  are  about  all  in  camp  and  them  that 
failed  to  report  may  be  caught  and  must  hide  and  the 
Circle  can't  help  them.  Into  the  bushes  with  such  a 
Circle !  " 

"  It'U  work  all  right  yet,  Jim,"  answered  Prantman 
soothingly.  "  The  uprising  in  the  West  hasn't  come  yet 
and  so  nothing  could  be  done  here.  But  there'll  be 
another  draft  attempted  soon,  for  the  nigger-worshipers 
made  lots  of  money  on  this  one.  By  that  time  we'll  be 
ready  for  them." 

"  Yes,  ready,  when  everybody  that  can  hobble  has 
been  drafted,  or  is  killed,  like  poor  Jake,  or  is  fingerless, 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  431 

and  black  Abe  and  liis  thieves  has  got  the  last  cent  in 
their  pockets,"  retorted  James  in  cutting  tones.  Hans 
winced  a  good  deal  but  made  no  reply.  His  foster-son 
made  no  sign  of  leaving. 

"What  did  they  do  at  the  meeting  at  Hahn's  last  Sat- 
urday night?  "   Fetzer  asked  after  a  pause. 

"  There  was  none  ;  it  was  too  hot  on  account  of  the 
Ruthvon  matter.  Old  Schlapphammel,  Doctor  Heifer 
and  some  other  Radicals  said  they'd  help  hang  Huber 
and  you  too  if  you  showed  your  faces  around,  and  the 
soldiers  would  have  helped  too." 

"  They  ain't  got  me  yet.  When  will  there  be  a 
meeting  then  once  ?  " 

"  Huber  sent  word  there  would  be  one  the  15th,  a 
a  week  from  to-day.  Young  Ruthvon  is  going  to  get 
over  it  as  Jake  didn't  shoot  quite  straight  enough  and 
by  that  time  things  will  be  quiet  and  honest  people  can 
go  out  again." 

"Where  will  it  be  ?  " 

"  At  Halm's  again.  There's  to  be  a  shootle-match 
for  turkeys  there  that  afternoon  and  that'll  help  to  keep 
off  suspicion." 

"  I  wonder  if  I  can  go  ?  " 

"  Nix  go !  You  go  Avhere  you  came  from,  but  don't 
tell  me  where  that  is,  for  I  don't  want  to  know." 

"  By  gripes  !  I  think  I'd  better,  else  it  might  go  with 
me  as  it  did  with  my  pap,  you  know,"  answered  Fetzer 
spitefully. 

'^  You  can  go  in  the  bushes  for  all  I   care,"  said  Hans 


432  ENEivnES  rN  the  rear; 

hastily.  Just  then  they  were  greatly  startled  to  see 
three  cavalry-men  go  by  the  house  at  a  sharp  gallop 
toward  the  mountain,  and  a  moment  later  Pete  Prant- 
man  rushed  into  the  house  slamming  the  door  behind 
him  and  yelling  "  Donnerwetter  !  Jim,  clear  out.  Did 
you  see  them  thieves  go  by  now  straight  ?  I  told  you 
what  Tom  Hartnagel  said  at  Baltzer's  last  night,  that  it 
had  been  decided  at  Washington  that  all  drafted  men 
who  hadn't  reported  should  be  imprisoned  a  year  and 
that  all  who  didn't  report  by  next  Monday  would  be 
shot  as  soon  as  they  could  catch  them,  but  you  won't 
listen.     They're  after  you,  Jim." 

Pete  cautiously  looked  out  at  the  door  to  see  whether 
the  soldiers  were  out  of  sight.  "  They're  coming  back," 
he  cried  slamming  the  door  again.  ''  Run,  Jim,  and  get 
in  the  barrel  !  " 

Fetzer  ran  down  into  the  cellar  and  crept  into  a  cider- 
barrel,  one  of  six  or  eight  of  uniform  size  lying  in  a  row 
on  timbers.  It  had  been  prepared  for  just  such  an 
emergency  by  removing  the  back  end.  As  soon  as  the 
fugitive  was  in  the  vessel  Hans  Prantman  fixed  it  into 
its  groove  in  the  timbers  with  the  open  end  within  a  few 
inches  of  the  wall,  and  there  it  lay  as  innocent  looking  a 
cider-barrel  as  ever  was  seen.  Drawing  a  pitcher  of 
cider  from  one  of  the  barrels,  he  hurried  up  the  steps 
into  the  kitchen,  reaching  it  as  the  soldiers  entered  at 
the  door  opposite. 

"  Hollo !  "  exclaimed  Prantman  as  if  greatly  sur- 
prised, settmg  the  cider  down  on  a  table. 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  433 

"  Sorry  to  disturb  you,"  said  Sergeant  Tliompson  po- 
litely removing  his  cap,  "  but  Ave're  hunting  for  one 
Fetzer  and  got  by  your  place  in  some  Avay,  though 
it's  conspicuous  enough  too.  Have  you  seen  him 
lately?" 

''  Ifs  now  already  two  weeks,"  said  Hans  with  true 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  stolidity. 

''  I  believe  you,  Mr.  Prantman,  but  my  duty  requires 
me  to  search  the  house,"  replied  Thompson  Avith  genuine 
New  England  suavity.  Prantman  was  dumfounded  and 
for  a  moment  could  not  come  to  speech.  "  Lincoln 
hirelings  "  were  going  to  search  his  very  house  ! 

"  You  black  "  —  he  began  at  last. 

"  I  have  no  time  to  converse  with  you,"  interrupted 
the  officer.  Ordering  one  private  to  remain  in  the 
kitchen,  he  and  the  other  soldier  searched  the  upper  part 
of  the  building  first.  Among  the  big  timbers  of  the 
garret  they  found  Ret  and  Hans'  wife.  On  the  second 
floor  they  discovered  Pete  in  bed,  shoes  and  all,  feigning 
sickness. 

"  I  reckon  this  is  our  man,"  said  Thompson.  "  Get 
out  and  come  along." 

"  Who  do  you  want  ?  "    asked  Pete  shivering. 

"  You  —  James  Fetzer." 

"  I'm  Peter  Prantman.  I  reported  and  was  sent 
home." 

"Let  me  see  your  hand,"  said  the  sergeant. —  ''The 
fellow  I  heard  Doctor  Goettman  speak  about!  —  Peter^ 
has  Fetzer  been  here  lately?" 


434  ENEMIES    IN    THE   REAR  ; 

"  Two  weeks  ago,"  answered  Pete,  "  but  if  you'll  look 
—  it  makes  nothing  out." 

"Sir?" 

"It  doesn't  matter  ;  he  isn't  here." 

Down  stairs  they  went  and  into  the  cellar.  A  certain 
heart  beat  very  fast.  With  lighted  lantern  they  peered 
and  pried  into  this  nook  and  that  cranny,  but  the  barrel 
in  which  Fetzer  lay  concealed  did  not  yield  its  secret 
and  the  soldiers  returned  up  stairs.  From  the  house 
they  all  went  to  the  barn.  This  they  examined  very 
carefully,  for  Pete's  hasty  words  had  aroused  suspicion 
in  the  officer's  mind,  but  the}'^  were  unsuccessful  and 
mounting  their  horses,  rode  off  toward  the  South  Moun- 
tain. 

After  dark  Fetzer  left  Prantman's  and  went  to  the 
mill.  William  Rambeutel  slept  in  the  house  now  and 
when  the  miller  and  the  philosophers  had  left,  Fetzer 
entered  the  mill  by  the  tail-race  archway  and  slept  in 
the  mill-room.  Mehlhuber  gave  him  food  and  he  spent 
the  day  on  the  hills.  Thus  a  week  passed  and  appar- 
ently no  further  search  was  being  made  for  him.  He 
concluded  that  the  hunt  for  drafted  men  was  ended  and 
that  he  might  safely  attend  the  shooting-match  and  the 
lodge  meeting  at  Halm's. 

The  15th  of  November  was  pleasant, —  exactly  the 
day  a  frequenter  of  shooting-matches  Avould  choose.  By 
one  o'clock  quite  a  crowd  of  boys  and  men  was  gathered 
in  Mike  Halm's  meadow.  At  these  matches  shot-guns 
were  used  when  turkeys  were  the  highest  prizes,  and  the 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  435 

distance  was  fifty  yards.  Each  competitor  had  his  own 
target.  It  consisted  simply  of  a  pine  board  an  inch 
thick  and  six  inches  square  with  two  straight  lines  drawn 
in  lead  from  opposite  corners  and  crossing  each  other  in 
the  centre  of  the  board.  "Shot  of  a  specified  number 
must  be  used  but  there  was  no  restriction  as  to  the  size 
or  make  of  the  guns,  in,  consequence  of  which  some  anti- 
quated, odd-looking  pieces  were  brought  into  requisition. 
Neither  was  there  any  limit  to  the  number  of  competi- 
tors, of  whom  a  goodly  proportion  usually  forcibly  illus- 
trated the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  adage 

*  "Wer  sich  ernaehrt  mit  Fisclie  un'  Jage, 
Der  miisz  verrisz'ne  Kleder  trage." 

The  marksman  who  succeeded  in  putting  a  shot  nearer 
the  centre  of  his  target  than  any  of  his  competitors  to 
theirs,  was  declared  the  winner. 

Doctors  Henry  Heifer  and  John  Grebsgong  Goettman 
were  great  lovers  of  this  sport  and  considered  very  good 
shots.  Both  were  present.  Pete  Prantman  put  in  an 
early  appearance  and  Ad  Sparger  was  promptly  on  hand. 
Andrew  Pfannkuchen  came  a  little  later  and  he  and 
Pete  were  together  most  of  the  time.  Sufficient  chances 
were  soon  sold  at  a  levy  each,  to  pay  for  a  turkey  and 
the  trial  of  skill  began.  Dr.  Goettman  led  off  but  placed 
only  one  shot  in  his  target  and  that  some  distance  away 
from  the  centre. 

"  You've  lost  your  skill  since  you  was  up  on  the  moim- 

*  "He  who  gains  his  support  by  fishing  and  hunting,  mn^t  wear  ragged  gar- 
ments." 


436  ENEMIES    IN   THE  REAR; 

tain  last,  doctor ;  what's  wrong  ? "  said  Andrew  famil- 
iarly. 

"  Oh,  I've  been  shooting  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle 
and  am  too  tired,"  retorted  the  doctor. 

"  Ho  !  that's  a  centre-shot  anyhow,"  exclaimed  Heifer 
laughing  heartily.  Pfannkuchen  shot  next  and  came 
within  a  quarter  of  an  inch  of  the  centre  of  the  target. 
He  looked  at  Goettman  and  smiled  triumphantly.  It 
was  now  Ad  Sparger's  turn  but  the  poor  fellow's  hand 
trembled  so  much  that,  although  Doctor  HeKer  allowed 
him  to  use  his  o-wn  gun,  he  missed  the  target  completely. 
He  looked  as  blank  as  the  mark  he  had  aimed  at  and 
for  some  time  seemed  to  be  mentally  calculating  how 
many  drinks  of  panacea  his  chance-money  would  have 
procured  him.  Of  the  next  two  marksmen  neitlier  did 
as  well  as  Pfannkuchen  had  done.  Then  Pete  Prant- 
man  took  his  place  and  fired,  but  probably  owing  to  the 
loss  of  his  "  trigger-finger  "  failed  to  touch  the  board. 

"  That  was  really  a  sad  accident,  Prantman,"  said 
Goettman  in  a  tone  of  mock  compassion,  "  by  which  you 
lost  not  only  your  finger  and  the  privilege  of  serving 
your  country  in  the  field,  but  much  of  your  skill  as  a 
marksman  too,  it  would  seem." 

Pete  made  no  reply  in  words  but  in  looks  made  good 
the  deficiency  several  times  over.  Doctor  Heifer  now 
stepped  to  the  mark  and  Pfannkuchen  looked  anxious. 
The  target  received  a  shot  in  the  very  centre. 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  exclaimed  Goettman. 

Several  others  followed  but  none  came  within  half  an 


OR,     A    GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUAHED.  437 

inch  of  the  required  point.  Doctor  Heifer  was  accord- 
ingly declared  the  winner  of  the  turkey  and  Pfannkuchen 
received  the  surplus  money,  three  levies.  While  the 
crowd  was  examining  the  targets  a  man  came  walking 
across  the  meadow  from  the  barn. 

"Ho!  if  that  isn't  Jim  Fetzer,  I'm  a  rebel,"  said 
Doctor  Heifer.  It  certainly  was  Fetzer.  He  got  a 
warm  welcome  and  a  number  congratulated  him  on  his 
escape  from  military  service.  He  was  somewhat  alarmed 
when  he  saw  Doctor  Goettman,  but  Pfannkuchen  whis- 
pered him  to  talk  right  up  to  the  Lincohi  ink-licker  if 
necessary. 

"  Fetzer,  do  you  know  it's  dangerous  for  you  to  be 
here  ?  "  said  Heifer. 

"  Yes,  and  you  make  it  unpleasant  for  us  too,"  added 
Goettman,  "  for  as  good  citizens  we  ought  to  give  the 
authorities  information  about  you." 

"  You  refused  to  exempt  me  when  I  had  a  good  claim 
and  now  you  and  your  authorities  may  go  into  the 
bushes,"  replied  Fetzer  hotly. 

"That's  right,"  said  Pfannkuchen,  "talk  up  to  him. 
He  no  doubt  got  ten  dollars  for  examining  you,  and  he'd 
seU  you  for  two  more.  Let  him  know  he  isn't  in  his 
room  in  the  thieves'  office  in  Reading. 

"I  should  say,  Andrew,"  replied  Goettman,  coolly 
biting  a  cigar  in  two,  "that  for  a  man  against  whom  a 
grave  offence  is  charged  in  the  courts  you  are  talk- 
ing very  loud.  And,  Fetzer,  Stahlschmidt  may  be 
after  you    too  before  long,  as  well  as  Hautnehmer. — 


438  EJSTEMIES    IN    THE    REAR  ; 

Hahn,  put  me  down  for  two  chances  in  the  next 
match." 

So  the  crowd  scattered  agam,  and  m  a  few  moments 
the  shootmg  for  the  second  turkey  began.  During  it's 
progress  Yorim  the  Jew  peddler  came  over  from  the 
house.  He  was  known  to  everybody,  and  as  it  was  no 
unusual  thing  to  see  him  anywhere  at  any  hour,  no  one 
gave  any  heed  to  his  presence.  He  stepped  up  to  Fetzer 
and  when  all  were  watching  Doctor  Goettman,  who  was 
about  to  make  a  second  trial  of  his  skill,  said  quietly : 
"  Jim,  get  away  from  here !  Six  soldiers  was  taking 
dinner  at  Baltzer's  when  I  left  there  and  I  think  they 
are  after  you.  I  saw  the  witch's  boy  whisper  to  the  leader 
on  the  porch,  and  I  think  they'll  find  out  soon  enough 
where  you  are.  Clear  out  and  don't  forget  the  nine 
dollars  you  owe  me  on  the  watch  yet." 

Doctor  Goettman  missed  his  target  entirely  this 
time. 

"Is  it  possible?"  he  said,  putting  a  heavy  emphasis 
on  each  word. 

"  It  is,"  said  Pfannkuchen  spitefully.  "  You  won't 
hit  again  if  you  shoot  till  dark.  I've  fixed  that."  Fet- 
zer pretended  to  join  in  the  laugh  which  followed  but 
took  advantage  of  it  to  whisper  to  Yorim  : 

"  That  there  young  skunk  owes  me  a  spite  and  he  saw 
me  on  the  hill  yesterday.  Which  way  did  the  Lincolners 
go?" 

"  They  hadn't  left  the  tavern  yet  when  I  drove  off, 
but  you'd  better  get  away  as  soon  as  you  can.     I  don't 


OR,    A   GOLDEN  CIRCLE  SQUARED.  439 

want  to  see  you  hurt."  And  he  added  mentally:  "I 
might  lose  my  nine  dollars  if  you  got  caught." 

A  dispute  arose  between  Heifer  and  Johnny  Shiffler 
as  to  which  had  put  his  shot  nearer  the  centre  of  his 
target  and  almost  the  entire  assemblage  including  Yorim 
gathered  around  and  took  part.  When  it  was  finally 
decided  in  Shiifler's  favor  Fetzer  had  disappeared  from 
the  scene.  A  little  before  sunset  six  soldiers  rode  up 
to  Hahn's  barn  and  thence  to  the  shooting-ground,  where 
half  a  dozen  men  and  boys  were  still  engaged  in  target 
practice.  Sergeant  Thompson  looked  over  the  group 
a  moment  and  then  led  his  force  to  the  house.  He 
entered  and  was  surprised  to  find  ten  or  twelve  men  in 
the  kitchen.  They  frowned  on  him  and  did  not  answer 
his  salutation. 

"  Is  Mr.  Hahn  here  ?  "  he  asked, 

"Yes,"  answered  that  individual. 

"Have  you  seen  James  Fetzer  here  to-day?"  he 
inquired  of  Hahn  aside. 

"Yes,"  was  the  sullen  reply. 

"  Is  he  on  your  premises  now?" 

"  Not  so  far  as  I  do  know." 

"  Mr.  Hahn,  I  have  authority  to  search  all  your  build- 
ings but  if  you'll  give  me  your  word  that  so  far  as  your 
knowledge  goes  he  is  not  on  them,  I  will  take  it.  And 
you  must  remember  that  to  help  a  drafted  man  will 
cause  you  trouble." 

"  I  have  said  it  to  you  and  I  don't  know  where  he 
is  —  may  be  in  Patagony  or  in  Conywaychique." 


440  ENEMIES    EST   THE   EEAE  ; 

"  All  right,  sir." 

Andrew  Pfannkuchen  could  have  told  in  what  direc- 
tion the  fugitive  had  gone,  but  he  too  had  vanished. 
Sergeant  Thompson  and  his  men  rode  toward  the  turn- 
pike and  when  they  struck  it,  some  distance  above 
Haltfast,  turned  toward  the  west.  Less  than  a  mile 
farther  on  lived  a  middle-aged  woman  familiarly  known 
as  "  Deaf  Gretchen."  She  was  born  deaf  and  dumb  but 
notwithstanding  knew  all  the  news  of  the  neighborhood 
and  delighted  in  gossip,  especially  if  it  partook  of  the 
nature  of  scandal.  She  had  her  own  system  of  signs 
and  from  long  acquaintance  many  persons  were  able  to 
converse  with  her  pretty  well.  When  the  soldiers 
arrived  opposite  her  house  she  came  running  to  the  front 
gate  and  as  was  her  wont  began  to  chatter  and  gesticu- 
late. She  pointed  in  the  direction  of  Mehlhuber's  mill 
and  imitated  a  man  hurrying  and  looking  behind  him. 
Thompson  had  no  knowledge  of  the  woman  but  believed 
she  was  either  trying  to  help  him  or  to  deceive 
him. 

"  We'll  see,"  he  said.  "  Forward  !  "  And  off  they 
went  at  a  brisk  gallop  to  the  mill.  Andrew  Pfann- 
kuchen came  out  just  as  they  arrived  there  ;  he  paid  no 
heed  to  them,  apparently,  and  walked  up  the  glen. 
Throwing  his  rein  to  one  of  his  men,  Thompson  entered 
the  mill.  In  the  mill-room  he  found  the  proprietor  and 
Yonie  Zwiwwelberg. 

"Mr.  Mehlhuber,  I  come  to  see  you  often  these  days," 
remarked   the  leader    pleasantly.     "I'm   back   for  the 


OK,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  441 

second  time  to-day  you  see,  and  am  getting  well  ac- 
quainted around  liei'e." 

"  It  is  right  so,"  answered  Christian. 

"  Has  Fetzer  been  here  ?  " 

"  He  went  up  the  road  maybe." 

"  Toward  the  head  of  the  hollow  where  the  gun-bar- 
rel factory  is  ?  " 

''  That  is  maybe  so." 

Leaving  one  man  at  the  mill  the  sergeant  took 
the  rest  up  the  road  in  the  direction  Pfannkuchen 
had  taken.  The  shades  of  night  were  beginning  to 
fall.  Suddenly  Sharp  Billy  emerged  from  behind  a 
tree. 

"  I  saw  liim  going  into  the  boring-mill  only  ten 
minutes  ago,"  he  said. 

"  Whom  ?  " 

"  That  one  you're  hunting." 

"Billy, —  that's  your  name,  isn't  it?  —  you're  a 
trump  and  will  be  a  general  easy  before  the  war  is 
over,"  said  Thompson,  which  compliment  Billy  promptly 
acknowledged  by  taking  off  his  little  old  hat  and  cutting 
a  caper.  Fetzer  was  not  found  at  the  boring-mill  and  it 
was  too  late  now  to  make  farther  search  for  him. 
It  was  getting  quite  cold  also  and  the  soldiers  started  for 
Haltfest.  Not  far  from  the  mill  Sharp  Billy  again  met 
them,  and  they  halted. 

"What  will  they  do  with  Jim  if  he's  caught?"  he 
asked  coming  up  to  the  sergeant's  horse  in  the  gathering 
darkness  and  speaking  in  low  tones. 


442  EKEAIIES    EST   THE   EEAK  ; 

"  Oh,  he'll  be  put  in  the  guard-house  awhile  and  then 
be  sent  to  the  front,"  answered  Thompson. 

"  Is  that  all,  clean  down,  now  ?  " 

"  I  reckon  that's  about  all  —  unless  he  has  to  carry  a 
stick  of  wood  on  his  shoulder  a  week  or  so  besides.  But 
why  do  you  ask  such  a  funny  question  ?" 

'^  Because  this  time  you'll  get  him  sure  and  I  don't 
want  to  have  him  shot,  but  if  that's  all  they'll  do  to  him 
I  don't  care.  He  hit  me  because  I'm  a  friend  to  Tom 
Hartnagel,  and  so  I'U  tell  you,  but  you  must  promise 
not  to  tell  on  me,  else  they'll  make  me  dead,  sure." 

"  I  promise,  general,  for  all  of  us;  speak  quick,"  said 
Thompson  laughing  yet  wondering  what  the  lad  had  to 
reveal.  Billy  came  up  closer  and  asked  the  officer  to 
stoop  down. 

"  Him  and  Andy  is  in  the  mill  again,"  he  whispered. 
"  I  was  watching  and  saw  them  go  in  by  the  tail-race 
archway.  You  must  put  a  man  there  before  you  go  in 
the  mill,  else  they'U  get  out  there  again  just  like  two 
ground-hogs." 

"  Thank  you,  general.  I  reckon  I'll  manage  it  now." 
They  tied  their  horses  to  trees  some  distance  from  the 
road  and  cautiously  approached  the  mill.  One  man  was 
stationed  by  the  archway,  another  was  placed  by  the 
lower  back  door  and  a  third  guarded  the  main  entrance, 
by  which  Thompson  and  his  remaining  men  entered  the 
mill.  In  the  mill-room  by  the  dim  light  of  a  drone  lamp 
hanging  on  the  wall  they  saw  Rambeutel  and  three  or 
four    "  Bergknibbel,"    besides    Andrew    Pfannkuchen. 


OK,   A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQXJAEED.  443 

The  work  of  the  week  was  over  and  the  miller  was  about 
to  go  to  the  house.  On  seeing  the  soldiers  he  was  much 
alarmed,  his  first  thought  being  that  after  all  he  was 
needed  to  make  up  the  forty-two  men  required  from 
Copton  township.  He  was  much  relieved  wlien 
Thompson  asked  whether  James  Fetzer  had  been  there 
lately. 

"  I  certainly  haven't  seen  him  to-day,"  answered 
Rambeutel  innocently  and  Pfannkuchen  said  he  hadn't 
seen  Jim  for  over  two  weeks. 

''  You  men  will  consider  yourselves  under  my  orders 
awhile,"  said  the  sergeant.  "  The  mill  is  guarded ;  do 
not  attempt  to  leave  it." 

The  "  Bergknibbel "  were  scared.  The  terrors  of  war 
had  come  to  that  very  room  where  they  had  often  so 
comfortably  discussed  them  !  Pfannkuchen,  howeA^er, 
was  braver  and  sat  him  down  on  the  bed  in  sullen 
mood.  The  officer  left  a  man  outside  the  mill-room 
door  and  with  the  other,  having  provided  himself  with 
an  old-fashioned  lantern,  went  into  the  upper  part  of 
the  mill.  While  they  were  peering  around  here  and 
there,  suddenly  a  man  sprung  from  behind  the  smut- 
mill,  ran  to  the  hoist-hole  and  slid  down  the  rope  mth  a 
whir.  Down  the  stairs  to  the  ground  floor  ran  the 
searchers  but  found  no  one.  They  concluded  that 
Fetzer,  if  it  was  he,  must  have  gone  into  the  wheel- 
room.  No  sooner  had  they  entered  that  apartment  than 
they  heard  a  splashing  of  water  evidently  made  by  men 
engaged  in  a  struggle.     Cries  for  help  also  came  through 


444  ENEMIES  IN  THE   REAE  ; 

the  opening  in  the  wall  between  the  wheel-room  and  the 
chamber  of  the  great  water-wheel.  Thompson  handed 
his  gun  to  his  companion  and  by  the  light  of  his  lantern 
clambered  through  the  aperture  as  quickly  as  he  could. 
Jumping  down  into  the  shallow  water,  he  stumbled  over 
the  guard  whom  he  had  stationed  at  the  archway  and 
heard  rapid  steps  in  the  water  beyond.  He  called  to  his 
comrade  to  come  and  care  for  the  man  in  the  water  and 
then  hurried  after  the  retreating  skulker.  The  next 
moment  he  heard  the  guard  at  the  lower  door  cry 
"  Halt !  "  followed  almost  instantly  by  the  sharp  report 
of  a  rifle  and  sounds  of  a  scuffle.  He  ran  to  the 
guard's  assistance  and  the   fugitive    was  soon    secured. 

"  It's  our  man,"  said  Thompson  ;  "  he  answers  the 
description.  —  Fetzer,  we've  got  you  at  last." 

"I  don't  owe  the  old  witch's  boy  nothing,  I  think," 
the  prisoner  replied  sullenly. 

"Take  him  to  the  mill-room,"  ordered  the  sergeant. 
The  man  who  had  called  for  help  was  somewhat  hurt 
by  a  blow  from  Fetzer's  fist.  He  was  brought  out 
through  the  archway  and  in  a  few  moments  all  the 
soldiers  and  their  prisoner  were  gathered  in  the  mill- 
room.  Ffannkuchen  was  gone.  Rambeutel  said  he  had 
jumped  out  of  one  of  the  windows  about  the  time 
the  rifle  shot  was  heard. 

"We'll  remain  here  till  morning,"  said  Sergeant 
Thompson.  He  ordered  the  miller  to  renew  the  fire  in 
the  stove  and  then  dismissed  him  and  the  "  Bergknib- 
bel,"  who  were  overjoyed   at  their  release.     A  sentry 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  445 

was  posted  outside  the  mill-room  door  and  Fetzer  ^vas 
permitted  to  dry  his  clothes  by  the  stove.  Soon  nothing 
was  heard  save  the  rippling  of  the  water  on  the  stony 
bed  of  the  tail-race. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

THE  lOvTIGHTS  ATTEMPT  A  RESCUE. 

Andrew  Pfannkuclien  made  his  leap  from  the  window 
without  injury.  He  would  have  gone  to  Fetzer's  aid  had 
not  the  odds  been  against  him.  He  waited  long  enough  to 
make  it  tolerably  certain  that  the  soldiers  would  remain 
in  the  mill  with  their  prisoner  until  morning  and  then  hur- 
ried down  the  road  and  away  to  Mike  Hahn's.  The  distance 
was  over  two  miles  but  in  about  half  an  hour  he  stood  in 
the  presence  of  Philip  Huber  and  the  assembled  Knights. 
The  lodge  was  discussing  matters  relative  to  a  dead 
member  —  Jacob  Zellon  —  but  Pfannkuchen  was  per- 
mitted at  once  to  tell  the  story  of  the  capture  of  a  living 
one  —  James  Fetzer. 

"Now,  what' 11  you  do?"  he  asked  in  conclusion. 
"  What's  this  lodge  worth  anyhow  ?  Many  of  our 
members  is  wearing  a  blue  uniform  against  their  will, 
one  has  been  shot  by  a  Lincoln  hirelmg  and  another  is  a 
prisoner.  We've  been  talking  and  bragging,  but  we 
am't  lifted  a  hand  to  prevent  all  this." 

Huber  rose  and  explamed  the  matter  much  as  Hans 
Prantman  had  done  to  James  Fetzer. 

"  The  next  draft,  Schtern  Riesel !  "  exploded  Andrew 
indignantly.  "  Not  handy  !  If  not  something  will  be 
done,  the  order'U  get  weaker  and  weaker.     People  is 


OK,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUAEED.  447 

laughing  already  because  we  didn't  dare  to  meet  last 
week  on  account  of  the  shootmg  of  Charlie  Ruthvon." 

A  number  of  members  said  that  was  certainly  so. 

"  Now,  I  say  let's  rescue  Jim,  accordmg  to  our  oath," 
he  contmued  ;  "  then  if  they  see  we're  domg  something 
once  Ave'll  get  many  new  members.  Here's  —  let's  see 
—  ten,  fifteen,  twenty,  thirty  —  more  than  forty  men. 
If  Mr.  Huber  will  lead  twenty-five  of  us,  we  can  get 
Fetzer  free."  But  Huber  was  not  at  all  anxious  to 
embrace  this  opportunity  to  find  fame  and  honor.  He 
explained  that  while  such  a  rescue  as  Pfannkuehen  pro- 
posed was  very  desirable  and  they  were  at  perfect 
liberty  to  attempt  it,  he  hmiself  was  no  soldier  and  his 
commission  was  to  organize  lodges  and  stir  up  the 
people. 

"  Then  /'//  do  it  if  twenty  men  will  go  with  me,  said 
Pfannkuehen  enthusiastically  ;  •'  there  isn't  much  risk  if 
we  follow  the  plan  I've  got." 

"  What  is  your  plan  ?  "  asked  Huber. 

'•'  We'll  march  up  to  the  mill  without  noise,  then 
Mehlhuber  can  go  in,  make  believe  surprise  and  see  how 
things  looks.  Then  he'll  pretend  to  go  to  the  house  but 
come  and  report  to  us,  and  then  we'll  surround  the  mill, 
shout  awful  threats  and  them  that's  got  guns  and  pistols 
will  at  the  same  time  shoot  them  loose.  I  think  there 
isn't  more  than  four  or  five  Lincolners,  and  this  wiU 
scare  them  awful  and  they'll  run  out  of  the  mill,  think- 
ing a  big  mob  is  going  to  tear  them  up.  Anyhow 
they'll  come  to  the  door,  and  Jim  knows  the  hoist-hole 


448  ENEIMIES   IN   THE   BEAR; 

and,  if  he  isn't  tied,  will  have  a  fine  chance  to  get  off 
and  no  one  will  know  who  done  it." 

Some  of  the  older  men  shook  their  heads,  but  to  the 
younger  members  the  plan  seemed  very  harmless  and 
promised  lots  of  fun,  and  if  they  succeeded  in  releasing 
Fetzer,  it  would  be  something  to  boast  of  for  a  life-time. 
If  Huber  had  doubts  of  the  feasibility  of  Pfannkuchen's 
scheme,  he  said  nothing  and  when  a  call  for  volunteers 
was  made  twenty-two  young  and  middle-aged  men  at 
once  agreed  to  go. 

"  Of  course  Mehlhuber  will  go  ?  "  said  Pfannkuchen. 

"  It's  on  my  way,"  answered  Mehlhuber. 

"  Let's  hurry  up  now,"  said  the  leader.  "  The  moon 
rises  a  little  after  one  o'clock,  and  we  must  have  Jim  out 
before  that  time  else  we  might  be  seen  and  known." 

"  I  hope  you'll  all  get  shot  for  your  trouble,  you 
copperheads  you ! "  whispered  Lovina  Hartnagel  to 
herself  at  her  post  in  the  room  above.  Huber  wished 
them  luck,  and  out  into  the  night  went  the  rescuers. 
Six  or  eight  had  rifles,  as  many  more  had  shot-guns 
used  at  the  shooting-match  in  the  afternoon,  and  nearly 
all  had  pistols.  In  a  comparatively  short  time  they 
were  within  twenty  rods  of  the  mill. 

"  Now  we  must  remain  here  and  be  very  quiet  until 
Mehlhuber  returns  and  reports,"  said  Pfannkuchen  softly 
after  halting  his  party. —  "  And,  Mehlhuber,  be  very 
sure  to  try  apple-jack  on  them.  If  you  can  get  them  all 
drunk,  it's  soon  done." 

"  That's   good  so,"  Mehlhuber  replied  and  away  he 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  449 

went  on  his  somewhat  dangerous  mission.  Carelessly- 
humming  a  choral,  he  went  to  the  main  door  but  found 
it  locked. 

"  Who  comes  there  ?  "  sounded  sharply  from  within. 

"  The  owner  of  this  here  mill.  I  will  come  in,"  repUed 
Mehlhuber. 

"  Wait  a  minute,"  said  the  sentry  and  reported  to  his 
officer.  The  sergeant  ordered  a  second  soldier  to  undo 
the  door,  whereupon  the  owner  of  the  mill  walked  in  and 
went  unhindered  to  the  mill-room. 

"  Hello !  what's  this  ?  "  he  said  in  seeming  surprise 
looking  around  in  the  dim  light.  "  I  thought  it  was 
Rambeutel." 

"  Mr.  Mehlhuber,  we're  very  sorry  to  trouble  you  so 
much,"  said  Thompson,  "  but  its  late  and  we  concluded 
to  wait  here  till  morning." 

"  Hollo  !  is  that  you,  Fetzer  ?  "  said  Mehlhuber  pre- 
tending to  notice  the  prisoner  for  the  first  time. 

"  Yes,  it  is,"  answered  Fetzer,  who  now  sat  on  the 
bed  and  looked  rather  despondent. 

"  You  soldiers  you,  will  you  take  a  drink  of  something 
to  warm  you  up  and  make  you  dry  ?  "  said  Mehlhuber 
addressing  the  leader. 

"  Have  you  hot  coffee  ?  We  shall  be  glad  to  pay  you 
for  it,"  replied  Thompson. 

"  Nix,  coffee  !  I  just  came  from  town  and  the  frau  is 
in  bed  and  the  fire  is  out,  but  under  the  bed  there  is 
what's  better  than  coffee  to  dry  your  clothes," 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  asked  Thompson. 


450  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAU  ; 

MeHhuber  reached  under  the  bed  and  drew  out  the 
big  black  jug.  Removing  the  corn-cob  stopper,  he 
offered  the  vessel  to  Thompson.  "  Drink  one,  its  fine 
apple-jack,"  said  he. 

*'Mr.Mehlhuber,  I  and  my  men  are  all  from  Maine,  where 
we  don't  drink  such  stuff,"  said  the  sergeant  laughing. 

"  The  Schinner  !  what  do  you  then  drink  up  there  ?  " 
exclaimed  the  miller  in  blank  astonishment. 

"  Good  water,  tea  and  coffee." 

"  Go  away  once  !  not  drink  apple-jack  ?  I  think 
Fetzer  there  is  fast,  but  can  he  take  one  ?  " 

"  Certamly,  if  he  wants  to." 

"  G'sundheit !  "  said  Fetzer  taking  a  strong  ''  pull  "  at 
the  jug,   "may  be  it's  the  last  one." 

"We're  Pennsylvania  Dutch  and  have  no  bedeviled 
Yankee  nonsense  about  us,"  said  Mehlhuber  likewise 
taking  a  drink. — "  You  can  stay  here  till  morning  but 
I  think  you'll  pay  something  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  certainly,"  answered  Thompson,  smiling ; 
«  will  a  dollar  do  ?  " 

"  That  is  right,"  said  the  other  taking  the  money  and 
leaving  the  mill.  Having  rejoined  his  party  down  the 
road,  he  duly  reported  what  he  had  seen  and  done. 

"You  see  the  apple-jack  plan  don't  go,"  said  he. 
"  The  rascals  is  all  ragged  Yankees  and  don't  even  know 
what  apple-jack  is,  kotz  taussig  !  " 

"  Schtern  Riesel !  then  we'll  go  ahead  as  we'd 
planned,"  said  Pfannkuchen.  "Very  quiet  now.  Yell 
awful  when  the  time  comes." 


OR,    A   GOLDEN    CHICLE    SQUAHED.  451 

Softly  they  walked  up  to  the  mill  and  surrounded  it. 
All  at  once  shouts  fell  on  the  still  night  —  "  Grab  the 
Lincoln  devils  !  Shoot  the  thieves  !  Throw  them  into 
the  race  I  Don't  let  one  of  them  escape  !  "  and  sundry 
other  hostile  expressions,  accompanied  by  a  volley  of 
pistol  and  rifle  shots.  Sergeant  Thompson,  who  had  gone 
to  sleep,  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant.  He  was  some- 
what startled  at  the  noise  and  uproar  outside  but  when 
the  shouting  Avas  not  followed  by  an  assault  and  the 
firing  did  no  execution  even  on  the  windows,  he  began 
to  suspect  the  nature  of  the  demonstration  and  resolved 
to  teach  those  engaged  in  it  a  lesson  and  have  a  little  fun 
besides.  Leaving  one  of  his  men  to  guard  their  prisoner, 
he  gave  the  others  instructions  and  led  them  out  through 
the  uj)per  door.  Then  he  shouted  "  Charge  !  "  and  ran 
to  the  lower  side  of  the  building.  "  Fire  !  "  came  the 
order,  and  every  rifle  was  discharged  into  the  air.  Such 
running  in  every  direction,  such  stumbling,  such  falling, 
such  yells  and  profanity  as  followed  were  simply  aston- 
ishing ! 

Fetzer  concluded  that  the  soldiers  were  fighting  with 
a  band  of  rescuers  and  determined  to  make  a  dash  for 
liberty.  His  limbs  were  entirely  free  and  like  lightning 
he  sprung  upon  the  unsuspecting  guard  at  the  door,  hurled 
him  into  the  opposite  corner,  opened  the  door  and  ran. 
But  the  guard  was  on  his  feet  again  in  a  moment  and  in 
pursuit  of  the  fugitive.  When  he  reached  the  outer 
door,  Fetzer  was  just  at  the  far  end  of  the  long  plank 
slanting   from  the  doorway  to  the  ground.     The  moon 


452  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAK. 

had  risen  and  he  was  in  clear  view  of  the  guard.  The 
latter  cried  "  Halt ! "  but  Fetzer  gave  no  heed  to  the 
command.  The  next  instant  there  was  a  flash  and  a 
report  and  he  lay  dead  on  the  ground. 

A  number  of  neighbors,  alarmed  by  the  shouting  and 
firing,  came  running  to  the  scene,  but  of  the  Knights 
only  two  reappeared  that  night.  One  was  Mehlhuber, 
the  other  Andrew  Pfannkuchen.  The  latter,  seeing  his 
late  comrade  dead,  and  fearing  the  soldiers,  quickly 
departed  again.  Sergeant  Thompson  was  at  first  dis- 
posed to  place  Mehlhuber  under  arrest,  but  he  doubted 
whether  he  would  be  justified  in  the  act  either  by  his 
superior  officers  or  by  the  civil  magistrates,  and  forebore. 
He  ordered  his  men  to  carry  the  dead  body  into  the 
mill-room  and  left  it  in  charge  of  two  of  them,  after 
which  he  took  his  departure  for  Reading  to  make  his 
report  of  the  affair  at  headquarters.  Before  leaving  he 
instructed  the  guards  to  deliver  the  remains  to  the  civil 
authorities  whenever  the  latter  should  demand  them. 


CHAPTER  XXXYIII. 

THE   WATCH   WITH   THE   DEAD. 

The  news  of  the  tragedy  at  the  mill  spread  rapidly,  and 
by  noon  of  Sunday  a  great  multitude  of  people  had  col- 
lected there.  Much  excitement  existed  and  the  military 
authorities  and  the  President  were  denounced  in  un- 
measured terms.  The  irritation  was  increased  by  the 
fact  that  the  guards  would  not  permit  any  unauthorized 
persons  to  touch  the  body  of  the  dead  man  —  not  even 
Hans  Prantman.  The  poor  fellows  fared  badly  enough. 
The  provisions  promised  by  their  officer  failed  to  arrive 
and  no  one  offered  them  any  refreshment.  By  liberal 
pay  a  boy  was  finally  induced  to  bring  them  some  food. 
Vile  language  was  also  hurled  at  them,  more  espe- 
cially by  women,  but  fortunately  they  did  not  under- 
stand it. 

When  the  Coroner  arrived  the  excitement  became  still 
greater,  for  trouble  between  him  and  the  soldiers  was 
looked  for  ;  but  when  the  official  made  a  formal  demand 
for  the  body  of  James  Fetzer  it  was  immediately  com- 
plied with.  The  crowd  cheered  lustily :  it  was  a  victory 
over  the  hated  soldiery.  The  Coroner's  jury  found  a 
verdict  according  to  the  facts  and  censured  Thompson 
and  his  men.  The  Coroner  announced  that  the  friends 
of  the  deceased  were  at  liberty  to  remove  the  corpse  for 


454  ENElSnES   IN   THE   EEAR  ; 

burial,  and  Hans  Prantman  promptly  came  forward  and 
claimed  it. 

"  The  funeral  will  be  next  Wednesday  at  ten  o'clock," 
said  lie  in  a  loud  voice.  ""  Pfarrer  Heimer  will  preach 
the  sermon  and  I  give  you  all  an  invitation  to  come  to 
the  house  before  and  after  the  God-service  at  the  church. 
Come  all.  We'll  see  once  whether  black  Abe's  soldiers 
will  hinder  us." 

A  good  deal  of  surprise  was  expressed  at  Prantman's 
special  invitation,  for  he  was  fearfully  stingy.  Some 
however  shook  their  heads  and  remarked  in  whispers, 
that  he  had  taken  poor  James  and  raised  him  to  make 
good  a  wi'ong  they  need  not  mention,  and  that  no  doubt 
he  now  wished  to  bury  him  big  for  the  same  reason  that 
had  caused  him  to  take  care  of  the  lad  after  the  father's 
untimely  taking  off.  But  the  last  sentence  he  had 
spoken  undoubtedly  indicated  Hans  Prantman's  strongest 
motive  for  desirino-  to  o'ive  his  foster-son  a  grand  funeral. 
Was  not  James  Fetzer  killed  because  he  had  refused  to 
enter  the  service  of  Abe  Lincoln  ?  That  was  sufficient 
By  making  him  a  funeral  after  the  most  approved 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  fashion,  he  could  safely  and  with 
the  approval  of  nearly  the  entire  community  show  his 
contempt  for  the  military  authorities  and  his  sympathy 
with  all  who  might  refuse  to  report  when  drafted  or 
who  might  afterward  desert  from  the  Union  array. 
And  moreover  he  would  engage  the  Reverend  William 
Heimer  to  preach  the  funeral  sermon,  and  that  worthy, 
if  urged  a  little  by  the  promise  of  a  good  fee,  would  no 


OR,     A    GOLDEN    CIECLE    SQUARED.  455 

doubt  give  these  same  military  autliorities  sucli  a  lecture 
as  tliey  liacl  never  before  received  in  all  their  existence. 
He  fairly  gloated  over  the  idea,  and  his  hate  of  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  Avar  (except  the  high  prices  he 
received  for  all  that  his  farm  produced)  dominated  for 
the  time  his  love  of  lucre. 

In  due  season  the  body  of  James  Fetzer  was  conveyed 
from  the  mill  to  Hans  Prantman's  house.  It  was  laid  in 
the  front  room,  or  parlor,  below  stairs  and  the  house  was 
put  in  mourning.  During  the  day  the  old  Dutch  clock, 
which,  with  weights  and  j)endulum  exposed,  stood  in  one 
coi-ner  of  the  apartment,  was  stopped,  to  be  started 
again  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening.  All  the  pictures 
and  all  the  looking-glasses  in  the  entire  building  were 
turned  with  their  faces  to  the  wall.  The  old  family 
Bible  and  the  hymn-book  were  opened  and  conspicuously 
placed  upon  the  antiquated  bureau  or  dresser  in  the 
living-room  adjoining  the  parlor.  Moreover  —  though 
this  was  not  a  sign  of  mourning  necessarily,  be  it 
understood  —  Prantman,  senior,  secretly  placed  on  the 
ledge  over  the  door  between  the  two  rooms  the  foot  of 
a  toad  Avhich  had  been  preserved  for  just  such  an  occa- 
sion as  the  present.* 

*By  many  of  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  the  toad's  foot  is  still  held  in  high  repute 
as  a  talisman.  From  a  German  work  printed  in  Pennsylvania  in  1847,  entitled  "  Der 
langertrborgene  Schatz  mid  IJnux-Fi-eniid,  oder  getreuer  and  rhristlicher  Unlerriclit fner 
Jedermann,"  -which  is  to  be  found  in  many  Pennsylvania  German  families,  the  fol- 
lowing is  translated  in  illustration: — 

"  To  make  a  horse  stand  still  against  the  will  of  his  driver. 
Mix  the  following  ingredients,  viz. : 

A  half  ounce  of  Quarilaserum, 
A  quarter  do.    Putandrumlongum, 
A  do.  do.    Siiccus  leritarium. 
Scatter  this  across   the  road  where  the  horse  is  to  stand  still  ;  he  will  go  no 
farther  until  the  stuff  which  hinders  him  is  removed.    But  should  the  driver  have  on 
his  person  A  TOAD'S  FOOT,  the  mixture  will  be  rendered  inoperative." 


456  ENEMIES   EST   THE   REAR; 

The  shutters  were  bowed  and  in  the  front  part  of  the 
dwelling  all  was  hushed  save  when  the  undertaker  or 
some  other  person  entered  on  a  necessary  errand.  In 
the  back  part  of  the  mansion,  however,  and  in  the  out- 
buildings the  first  notes  of  preparation  for  the  great 
event  of  Wednesday  were  already  heard,  and  calcula- 
tions were  being  made  as  to  the  number  of  pies,  cakes 
and  loaves  of  bread  that  must  be  baked,  the  number  of 
turkeys,  chickens,  calves  and  pigs  that  must  be  slaugh- 
tered, and  the  amount  of  extra  help  that  must  be  en- 


Hans  Prantman  was  much  perplexed  as  to  whom  he 
should  invite  to  watch  Avith  the  dead  the  last  night  pre- 
ceding the  funeral.  Among  these  people  this  watch  is 
considered  an  important  matter  and  is  scrupulously 
maintained.  In  the  case  of  a  murdered  person  the  com- 
mon belief  was  that  just  as  the  clock  struck  the  mid- 
night hour  on  the  night  before  his  obsequies  he  would 
audibly  speak  the  name  of  his  murderer  and  pronounce 
a  curse  upon  him.  In  view  of  this  fact,  as  James  Fet- 
zer  was  regarded  as  having  been  murdered,  unusual  in- 
terest attached  to  the  watch  of  the  last  night.  Whose 
name  would  the  dead  man  speak  ?  That  was  the  ques- 
tion oftenest  asked  by  the  gossips. 

Tom  Hartnagel  and  Doctor  Heifer  had  openly  said 
that  Hans  Prantman  was  largely  responsible  for  Fetz- 
er's  death  and  the  former  had  even  declared  that  he 
believed  James  would  pronounce  his  foster-father's 
name  at  the  last  midnight  hour.     Who,  then,  should  the 


OR,     A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUA:RED.  457 

watchers  be  on  Tuesday  night  ?  Ordmarily  four  men 
about  the  age  of  the  dead  person,  or  young  men  if  the 
latter  be  a  chikl,  are  chosen  and  each  night  the  watchers 
are  changed,  but  Prantman  resolved  to  disregard  this 
custom,  at  least  so  far  as  the  last  night  was  concerned. 
Indeed,  he  was  tempted  to  undertake  the  watch  alone, 
but  that,  he  concluded,  would  set  every  tongue  in  the 
community  wagging,  and  he  abandoned  the  idea.  How- 
ever, he  would  be  one  of  the  four.  It  was  quite  unu- 
sual for  a  member  of  the  family  of  a  deceased  person  to 
engage  in  this  office  but  in  the  present  instance  it  Avould 
not  be  deemed  remarkable,  he  argued,  because  after  all 
James  was  not  a  blood  relative  of  the  family.  But 
whatever  might  be  said  or  thought,  at  all  hazards  he 
must  be  present  in  the  death-chamber  on  Tuesday 
night. 

"  And,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  I  must  have  men  with 
me  who  I  can  trust  not  to  talk  out  in  case  anything  un- 
pleasant should  happen,  verdollt  sei !  They  say  Jim's 
father  spoke  my  name  but  it  shan't  be  said  that  the  son 
repeated  it." 

So  he  chose  him  true  and  good  members  of  the  Cop- 
ton  lodge  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  every  one. 
They  were  Christian  Mehlhuber,  Mike  Hahn  and  An- 
drew Pfannkuchen.  He  did  not  care  who  watched  on 
Sunday  and  Monday  nights.  On  the  latter  William 
Rambeutel  was  one  and,  at  his  own  solicitation.  Ad 
Sparger  another.  Ad  enjoyed  the  watch,  for  by  the 
Bible  and  the  hymn-book  on  the  bureau  stood  a  pleas- 


458  ENEMIES    IN    THE    HEAR  ; 

ant-looking  bottle.  It  contained  jDanacea  and  before  re- 
tiring tbe  host  had  told  the  Avatchers  to  help  themselves 
from  it  whenever  they  felt  like  it.  It  goes  without 
saying  that  during  the  night  Sparger  often  did  feel 
like  it  and  his  frequent  excursions  from  the  Todeskam- 
nier  to  the  living-room  were  evidence  that  he  gave  free 
vent  to  his  feelings. 

"  Who  are  the  watchers  to  be  to-night,  Ad  ?  "  Tom 
Hartnagel  inquired  on  Tuesday  at  Fettig's  store. 

"  I  think  JNIehlhuber  and  Hahn,  and  Pfannkuchen 
says  he's  one,  but  by  Schinnerhannes  I  don't  know  who 
else,"  answered  Sparger. 

"  Birds  of  one  color  and  I  can  tell  jon  who  the  fourth 
one'U  be,"  said  Hartnagel. 

"  You  know  much,  Hartnagel. —  Say!  Let's  drink  one." 

."  Rambeutel  says  you  was  drunk  all  last  night  and 
you  look  bad  enough  now." 

"  And  I  feel  a  great  deal  worse  than  I  look,"  answered 
Sparger  with  his  enfeebled  wink.  "  A  schmaler  would 
make  me  look  and  feel  much  better." 

"You  beat  Billy  Gox  all  to  nothing,"  said  Tom 
laughing,  "but  Ave're  not  in  a  tavern  you  see,  Ad." 

On  the  street  Hartnagel  met  Sharp  Billy.  "  Billy," 
said  he,  "  I'd  give  a  good  red  cent  to  be  one  of  the 
watchers  at  Prantman's  house  to-night." 

"May  be  them  that's  invited  will  be  afraid  to  come," 
answered  Billy,  "  and  so  you  and  me  can  be  sort  of 
assistant  Avatchers,  you  knoAV,"  and  the  two  friends 
walked  up  the  road  in  close  conversation. 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  459 

Sharp  Billy  was  wrong,  for  when  Hans  Prantman 
invited  the  three  men  named  to  assist  at  the  watch  on 
Tuesday  night  they  felt  honored  and  at  once  accepted. 
True,  they  believed  that  something  supernatural  might 
occur  but  that  did  not  deter  them.  We  may  dread 
these  things,  yet  are  drawn  to  them.  At  eight  o'clock 
all  three  were  already  on  hand.  They  were  advised  by 
those  present  not  to  be  scared  if  anything  bad  happened, 
to  say  their  prayers  when  the  watch  began  and  to  look 
very  intently  at  the  dead  man  when  the  decisive 
moment  arrived, —  the  result  being  that  even  Mehlhuber 
was  presently  worked  up  into  a  very  nervous  state  indeed. 

By  nine  o'clock  the  baking  and  boiling  and  cooking 
were  ended  for  the  day,  the  neighbors  left  and  all  the 
household  but  its  head  retired  to  rest.  The  four  men 
were  left  alone  with  the  dead.  In  the  sitting-room  was 
a  small  wood  stove  with  just  fire  enough  to  keep 
the  two  apartments  comfortable.  The  bottle  by  the 
open  Bible  and  hymn-book  on  the  bureau  had  been 
replenished  since  the  watch  of  the  previous  night 
and  close  by  were  pipes  and  a  pot  of  cut-and-dry.  The 
first  acts  of  the  watchers  after  being  left  alone  were  to 
take  a  drink  from  the  bottle  in  the  old-fashioned  way 
and  to  fill  and  light  pipes.  Thus  fortified  —  the  prayers 
were  omitted  at  that  time,  reserved  as  it  were  for  a  later 
hour  when  something  more  potent  than  whiskey  and 
smoke  might  be  needed  —  they  went  into  the  death- 
chamber  and  sat  down. 

Without,  the  night  was  dismal.     It  was  very  dark  and 


460  E]srE]\nES  in  the  eear; 

the  rain  fell  steadily.  Within,  all  was  quiet  save  the 
clock,  whose  ticking  seemed  wondrous  loud  to-night,  as 
though  it  were  conscious  of  being  closely  observed  and 
had  put  itself  on  its  dignity.  The  stillness  shortly 
became  oppressive  and  when  the  watchers  grew  a  trifle 
accustomed  to  their  surroundings  occasional  remarks 
were  indulged  in  by  this  or  that  one.  Every  now  and 
then  too,  the  pleasant-looking  bottle  received  attention 
and  pipes  were  filled.  Courage  grew  and  tongues 
loosened.  The  dead  man's  merits  and  demerits  were 
discussed.  Several  times  allusions  to  his  father's  death 
were  made  but  at  such  points  Hans  Prantman  always 
diverted  tlie  conversation  by  referring  to  the  pattering 
rain  or  by  inviting  his  colleagues  to  step  into  the  next 
room  a  moment. 

"  This  here  thing  is  awful,"  said  Hahn  after  one  of 
these  excursions  to  the  sitting-room,  "  and  yet  I  think 
nothing  will  be  done  to  these  Lincoln  murderers. 
Doctor  Heifer  told  me  this  evening  that  a  warrant  was 
out  for  to  arrest  Sergeant  Thomas  and  his  fellows  and 
that  they'd  be  tried  in  our  Oyer  and  Terminer  court, 
but  that  nothing  couldn't  be  done  to  them  as  they'd 
only  done  their  duty.  It's  bad.  But  just  wait  once  a 
little  now  !  Congress  comes  together  soon  and  you  can 
lean  on  it  that  Ancoony'll  give  it  to  them  fellows  that 
they'll  think  they're  standing  on  their  heads." 

"  My  poor  Jim  was  murdered,"  said  Prantman  with  a 
long-drawn  sigh,  "and  who  knows  who'll  be  next. 
Thou  beloved  ground  !  " 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  461 

"  Yes,"  said  Hahn  lowering  his  voice  to  a  whisper  as 
if  afraid  Fetzer  would  hear  what  might  be  disagreeable 
to  him,  "  Nate  Geiger  told  me  something  this  very  after- 
noon." 

"  What  was  it  ?  "  they  all  asked  in  the  same  tone. 

"  You  all  know  the  bier  hangs  on  pegs  against  the 
north  side  of  his  house,  under  the  projection  of  the  roof, 
and  he  says  that  without  fail  that  bier  strikes  against 
the  side  of  the  house  three  times  in  succession  on  the 
night  before  he  receives  notice  to  play  the  organ  at  a 
funeral." 

They  all  drew  closer  together. 

"  Now,"  continued  Hahn  lowering  his  voice  still 
more,  "  Geiger  said  that  only  a  few  persons  knew  this, 
but  as  I  was  to  be  a  watcher  to-night  he'd  tell  me,  and 
also  that  last  Saturday  night  it  struck  so  loud  that  he 
was  sure  the  person  of  whose  funeral  he'd  get  notice  had 
come  to  his  end  by  violence,  and  that  he  was  also  pretty 
certain  another  funeral  of  the  kind  would  soon  follow. 
So  that  one  may  easy  say  who'll  be  next,  by  my  sex." 

At  that  moment  the  clock  gave  warning  that  it  was 
about  to  strike  ten.  The  sound  made  them  all  start  up 
from  their  chairs.  They  looked  at  each  other  m  a  way 
which  clearly  said,  "What  made  you  do  that,  you 
dumb-head  ? "  and  then  went  into  the  sittingr-room  to 
strengthen  themselves  anew  —  not  from  the  Bible  and 
hynm-book  yet  however  —  for  what  might  be  before 
them.  As  they  were  returning  the  clock  struck.  The 
whir  of  the  wheels  and  the  strokes  of  the  hammer  made 


462  ENEMIES   IN  THE  EEAR  ; 

an  unusual  noise  and  wlien  thej  ceased  the  stillness  was 
as  the  tomb. 

We  have  no  doubt  on  a  dark  night  shivered  over  a 
dreadful  ghost  story  told  by  a  comrade,  but  nevertheless 
we  were  ready  immediately  to  listen  to  one  still  more 
awful.  Once  in  the  current,  it  becomes  irresistible. 
Thus,  while  these  men  were  already  very  nervous,  they 
were  prepared  to  speak  and  hear  of  things  dark  and 
mysterious.  Indeed,  the  unnatural  silence  of  the  house 
was  worse  than  the  most  fearful  tale.  To  hear  their 
own  voices  was  reassuring.  It  drew  away  their  atten- 
tion from  the  sheet  covering  the  body  of  James  Fetzer, 
to  which  it  had  a  tendency  to  revert  whenever  there 
was  a  pause  in  the  conversation.  Hahn  was  the  first  to 
speak  after  the  clock  ceased  striking. 

"  It's  wonderful,"  said  he  puffing  away  at  his  pipe, 
"  how  the  spirits  of  them  that's  been  murdered  like  to 
return  to  the  spot  where  it  was  done.  Abel's  blood 
cried  to  heaven  from  the  ground  where  it  Avas  spilled." 
Hans  Prantman  looked  very  uneasy.  Hahn  hitched  up 
his  chair  closer  to  the  rest  and  looked  furtively  around 
the  room  a  moment.  "  I  tell  you,  neighbors,"  he  re- 
resumed,  "Katrina  Galsch's  house'll  be  a  more  awful 
place  than  ever  since  Jake  Zellon's  blood  ran  on  its  floor, 
and,  Mehlhuber,  I  doubt,  by  the  dev  —  my  !  almost 
I  said  it !  —  I  mean  I  don't  believe  you'll  keep  Ram- 
beutel  long,  after  Fetzer' s  murder  in  front  of  your  mill 
and  him  and  Zellon  both  laying  dead  in  the  mill-room." 

"  Hold  your  mouth,"  said  the   miller    with  a  much 


OR,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  463 

heavier  enunciation  than  common  ;  "  if  you  talk  much 
out  about  it,  I  won't  be  able  to  keep  a  miller  at  all.  I 
say,  damn  the  war  !  "  and  he  stamped  hard  on  the  floor 
with  his  heavy  foot,  to  his  own  great  alarm  and  that  of 
his  companions. 

"  I  remember  an  experience  my  mother  had,"  said 
Hahn  after  they  had  recovered  themselves.  ''  I  often 
heard  her  tell  about  it." 

"  Let's  hear  it,"  said  Pfannkuchen.  Still  closer  they 
all  got  together  forming  a  semi-circle,  their  heads  nearly 
touching. 

"  It  happened  many  years  ago,  —  wait  a  little  bit 
once,"  said  Hahn  suddenly  rising  and  going  to  the 
sitting-room. —  "  It  s  getting  empty  soon,"  he  resumed 
taking  a  seat  and  speaking  in  a  hushed  tone.  —  "  It  was 
before  the  days  of  railroads.  My  parents  had  just  been 
married  a  short  time.  In  them  there  days  the  store- 
keepers had  to  get  their  goods  hauled  to  their  stores 
from  Philadelphia  in  big  four-horse  wagons.  On  one 
occasion  my  father  went  for  a  load  of  store-goods  for  old 
John  Hinnersheets  over  at  Schnarraffelsschteddel  —  he 
died  jvist  about  a  year  ago,  you.  know,  ninety-nine  years, 
one  month  and  two  days  old.  Father  took  her  along 
with  him  that  trip.      It  was  in  the  beginning  of   June 

and  the  weather,  I've  often  heard  her  say  " 

"  By  the  Deihenker,  what's  that  there  ?  "  exclaimed 
Pfannkuchen  starting  up  and  staring  at  the  window, 
the  shutter  of  which  had  blown  open.  "  Look  at  them 
eyes !     Schtem  Riesel  once  more  !  " 


464  ENEMIES   IN   THE   BEAK. 

"  Alle  gute  G-eister  "  —  Hans  Prantman  began  instinct- 
ively. 

"  Gute  Geister,  your  grandmother  !  "  said  Hahn  con- 
temptously;  "it's  only  a  big  black  cat,  that's  all.  You 
know  how  cats  always  try  to  get  where  the  dead  is.  Is 
it  your  cat,  Prantman  ?  " 

"  No,"  answered  Hans.  "Drive  it  away  and  close  in 
the  shutter,  you  Pfannkuchen." 

"  Not  handy  !  Drive  it  away  yourself  ;  it  isn't  my 
cat  and  I  didn't  put  it  there,"  said  the  big  "•  Bergknib- 
bel"  backing  his  chair  further  away. 

"  I'll  drive  it  off,"  said  Mehlhuber  laconically.  He  ad- 
vanced cautiously  toward  the  window  and  threw  his  big 
red  bandana  against  it,  whereupon  the  animal  quickly 
disappeared,  but  none  of  the  men  were  brave  enough  to 
close  in  the  shutter.  Assured  that  the  manifestation 
at  the  window  Avas  of  this  world,  the  watchers  refreshed 
themselves  from  the  pleasant-looking  bottle,  renewed 
the  fire,  turned  the  lamp-wicks  a  little  higher  and  re- 
sumed their  seats. 

Meanwhile  James  Fetzer  slept  peacefully  on,  uncon- 
scious of  the  fears  that  filled  the  hearts  of  multitudes  of 
the  living.  The  old  clock  ticked  oif  the  seconds  of  time 
that  make  up  the  span  of  man's  life  but  it  meant  noth- 
ing to  him,  for  whom  time  was  no  more. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


GHOSTLY    MIDNIGHT    VIGILS. 


"Let  me  see  ;  where  was  I  in  my  story?  "said  Mike 
Hahn  when  they  were  all  seated  again.  "  Oh,  I  re- 
member. —  Yes,  it  was  in  June  when  my  parents  made 
that  trip  and  mother  often  said  it  was  awful  hot 
weather  at  the  time.  They  got  to  Philadelphia  with- 
out accident.  Father  loaded  his  things  and  they  started 
back  home  again.  All  went  right  until  late  one  even- 
ing they  got  to  what  is  still  known  as  the  '  Dun  Horse 
Tavern,'  on  the  Harrisburg  and  Philadelphia  turnpike, 
not  far  from  the  Berks  and  Montgomery  county  line." 

"  Fve  seen  it  several  times,"  exclaimed  Prantman 
deeply  interested.  "  I  stopped  over  night  there  twenty- 
five  years  ago  and  I  remember  I  slept  in  the  lower  front 
room." 

"  rU  get  the  plagues  if  that  wasn't  the  very  room  my 
mother  was  in,"  said  Hahn  in  a  tone  entirely  out  of 
keeping  with  a  Todeskammer. 

"  Holy  cross  !  "  said  Prantman  half  rising  from  his 
chair;  but  recollecting  that  the  narrator  had  not  yet 
said  anything  about  the  room,  he  added,  "  What  of  it  ? 
What  happened  in  that  there  room  ?  " 

"  When  they  got  to  the  tavern  they  found  it  full  of 


466  ENEMIES   IN   THE   BEAU; 

people,  the  barn  full  of  horses  and  mules  and  the  stable- 
yard  full  of  Conestoga  wagons.  The  landlord  said  if 
father  could  find  a  spot  in  the  yard  to  place  his  wagon 
and  feed  his  horses,  he  was  quite  welcome  to  do  so,  but 
that  he  must  sleep  in  his  wagon  as  the  rooms  in  the 
house  were  all  full." 

" '  Oh,  I'd  rather  sleep  in  my  wagon,'  father  re- 
plied. '  I  can  watch  the  goods  better  and  it's  so  hot  in 
the  house  anyhow ;  but  my  wife  is  with  me  and  if 
she  could  sleep  in  the  house  it  would  be  all  right, '  " 

"  '  We  have  no  room  empty  ',  said  the  host,  '  except 
the  'lower  front  room  and  —  we  never  put  any  one  in 
there  without  it's  necessary,  —  it's  a — well,  a  sort  of 
spare-room,  you  see,  and  —  your  wife  wouldn't  anyhow 
like  to  sleep  in  a  room  alone.' " 

"  Father  noticed  his  hesitating  manner  but  thought 
nothing  of  it  at  the  time." 

"  '  Oh,  yes,  she's  brave,'  he  replied,  '  and  if  it's  that 
room  there  '  —  pointing  to  one  on  the  ground-floor,  — 
'  she  can  leave  the  window  open  and  if  anything  dis- 
turbs her,  she  can  call  to  me  right  here  in  the  wagon, 
you  see.'  " 

"  '  Well,  I  think  —  yes,  it  can  be  done,'  stammered 
the  landlord,  '  but  of  course  if  anything  should  disturb 
her  —  you  know  there's  so  many  strange  people  around 
—  you  won't  blame  me.'  " 

"  Father  said  that  was  all  right,  for  he  had  never 
heard  anything  against  the  reputation  of  the  '  Dun 
Horse  Tavern.'     He  put  mother  into  the  room  and  told 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CERCLE   SQUAEED.  467 

lier  to  leave  the  window  open,  and  in  case  she  needed 
anything  to  call  to  him  in  the  wagon.  Then  he  fed 
his  horses  and  lay  down  the  best  way  he  could.  He 
was  bad  tired  and  was  soon  sound  asleep.  Mother  also 
fell  asleep  but  was  woke  up  some  time  in  the  night  by 
a  noise  in  the  room  above  her.  It  was  made  apparently 
by  a  heavy  footfall  accompanied  by  what  seemed  to  be 
a  chain  dragged  over  the  floor.  It  came  as  far  as  the 
top  of  the  stairs  and  then  went  back.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments this  was  done  again.  Mother  thought  she  heard 
groans  also.  She  was  so  afraid  that  she  couldn't  move 
or  cry  out.  Each  time  the  noise  came  near  the  stairs 
she  feared  it  might  come  down.  And  that's  just  what 
happened." 

"  No  !  Schtern  Riesel !  "  exclaimed  Pfannkuchen  with 
dilated  eyes. 

"  Yes,  it  was,"  said  Hahn.  "  The  seventh  time 
that  she  heard  the  footsteps  and  the  clanking  chain 
they  came  past  the  door  of  the  room  above  and 
out  on  the  stair-case  landing,  and  then  —  step  —  clank 
—  step  —  clank  —  Avhatever  it  was,  came  down,  down, 
down.  When  it  approached  the  foot  of  the  stairs, 
where  the  door  of  her  room  was  —  closer  and  closer  — 
she  became  almost  paralyzed  with  fear  and  unable  to 
move.  Suddenly  the  door  opened,  a  form  in  white  en- 
tered the  room  a  few  feet  and  then  stopped.  Her  eyes 
were  fixed  on  it  and  gradually  it  grew  into  gigantic  pro- 
portions, the  eyes  got  as  big  as  an  ox's  and  blazed,  and 
from  its    nose  and  mouth    blue  flames  did    come  out. 


468  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE  ; 

Mother  made  a  big  effort,  jumped  out  of  bed  and  ran 
screaming  to  the  window  and  called  father.  Her  cries 
woke  him,  and  in  a  moment  he  was  by  her  side  in  the 
room.  Nothing  out  of  the  way  was  to  be  seen  there  and 
for  a  time  she  was  unable  to  tell  what  had  happened. 
As  soon  as  she  did  so  he  concluded  it  was  best  to  leave 
such  a  place.  The  noise  woke  up  some  of  the  people 
and  the  landlord  came  and  begged  them  not  to  go,  and 
when  they  insisted  he  requested  them  not  to  say  any- 
thing. He  would  charge  them  nothing,  he  said,  and  in 
the  morning  would  certainly  discharge  the  drunken 
hostler  who  had  disturbed  them.  My  father  made  no 
reply.     That  night  they  reached  home  in  safety." 

"  What  was  it  anyhow  ? "  asked  Pfannkuchen 
eagerly. 

"  Some  time  afterward  father  had  occasion  to  make 
the  same  trip,"  continued  Hahn,  and  he  made  inquiry 
of  some  old  people  in  the  vicinity  of  this  tavern  whether 
they  had  ever  heard  of  anything  being  wrong  there. 
An  old  man  told  him  he  had,  and  that  almost  every  one 
knew  what  made  the  trouble  in  one  or  two  rooms  of  the 
inn. 

"  '  Of  course  Scholl  doesn't  want  strangers  to  know 
about  it,'  said  he  to  father.  '  You  see  about  ten  years 
ago  Yokkle  Klingweiler  kept  that  tavern.  He  was  an  ugly, 
cross  fellow  and  gave  the  old  house  a  very  bad  name. 
More  than  one  man  Avas  robbed  there  at  night.  But  one 
evening  a  cattle-drover  from  somewhere  behind  Reading 
stopped  there  and  was  put  in  the  room  above  the  lower 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  469 

front  room.  He  had  just  sold  a  drove  of  cattle  in  Phil- 
adelphia and  had  much  money  with  him.  He  was  mur- 
dered in  his  bed  and  dragged  down  stairs  into  the  lower 
front  room,  where  the  body  was  found  next  day.'  " 

"  Holy  cross  ! "  exclaimed  Prantman. 

"  Schtern  Riesel !  "  ejaculated  Pfannkuchen. 

"  Huh  !  "  grunted  Mehlhuber.  At  this  point  Hahn 
lowered  his  voice  almost  to  a  whisper. 

" '  But  Klingweiler  was  gone,'  said  the  old  man. 
'  Everybody  believed  he  had  killed  Fritz  Fetzer  '  " 

"•  Fritz  Fetzer  did  he  say  ?  "  asked  Hans  Prantman 
excitedly. 

"  He  did  certainly,"  Hahn  replied,  "  and  it  never 
struck  me  until  now  that  he  had  the  same  name  as  "  — 
sinking  his  voice  very  low  —  "  the  dead  man  there  on 
the  cooling-board." 

"  I  knew  him  when  I  was  a  boy  and  it  was  Jim's 
grandfather,"  said  Prantman. 

"  Lean  on  that  there  !  "  added  Mehlhuber  very  deliber- 
ately. 

"It's  strange,"  said  Hahn  musing, —  "grandfather, 
father  and  son,  all  getting  murdered."  Prantman 
looked  around  the  room  carefully,  not  excepting  the  part 
behind  him,  but  said  nothing. 

"What  became  of  Klmgweiler  ?  "  said  Pfannkuchen 
impatiently. 

"  Nothing  was  heard  of  him  for  ten  years,  the  old 
man  told  my  father.  '  And  that  was  two  months  ago,' 
said  he.      '  He  was  hurt    in  a  fight  in  a  town  on    the 


470  ENEMIES    IN     THE    REAR  ; 

Mississippi  river  and  died  next  day.  But  while  dying 
lie  made  a  big  confession.  He  said  he  killed  the  drover 
asleep  and  got  over  three  thousand  dollars.  Then  he 
pulled  him  out  of  the  bed  across  the  floor  to  the  door  but 
for  a  long  time,  though  he  exerted  all  his  strength,  he 
couldn't  get  him  across  the  threshold.  Seven  times  he 
tried  and  the  seventh  time  he  succeeded  by  pronouncing 
the  Highest  Name.  Then  he  partly  carried  and  partly 
dragged  the  body  down  the  stairs  and  into  the  room 
right  below  the  one  where  the  deed  was  done.  Under 
the  floor  of  this  room  was  an  unused  well,  which  has 
since  been  filled  up.  Into  it  Klingweiler  Avanted  to 
throw  his  victim,  but  in  his  confession  he  said  that  when 
he  got  to  the  room  an  awful  shape  appeared  over  the 
spot  where  the  well  was.  Terror  seized  upon  him  and 
he  ran  out  of  the  room.  He  filled  a  carpet-bag  with 
victuals  and  hurried  from  the  house.  He  traveled  at 
night,  and  by  day  stayed  in  the  Avoods,  and  so  escaped. 
A  little  while  before  the  news  of  Klingweiler's  confes- 
sion and  death  they  say  a  woman  who  was  put  in  that 
room  was  bad  scared  by  an  awful  sight  coming  in 
through  the  night.  Since  then  nothing  wrong  has  been 
heard  or  seen  at  Scholl's  place  and  he  keeps  a  good 
house.  My  belief  is  nothmg  will  be  seen  any  more.  The 
drover's  murderer  is  now  dead,  and  the  murdered  man 
is  satisfied  and  won't  trouble  anybody  any  longer.'  " 

"  My  father  always  believed  the  woman  the  old  man 
spoke  of  was  my  mother,"  said  Hahn.  "  He  heard 
afterwards  that    a   drunken   hostler   slept  in  the   room 


OR,     A    GOLDEN"    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  471 

above  tlie  lower  fi-ont  room,  and  that  lie  sometimes  car- 
ried chain-traces  and  other  harness  from  the  barn  to  his 
lodgings  and  mended  them  there.  He  was  a  big  smoker, 
and  he  frequently  came  down  from  his  room  to  the  bar- 
room at  night  to  get  liqiror  and  light  his  pipe.  So 
some  people  said  they  believed  the  hostler  made  all  the 
noise  that  disturbed  the  people,  and  that  sometimes 
when  he  came  down  stairs  half  di-unk  he'd  get  into  the 
wi'ong  room,  and  then  of  course  timid  people  Avould 
raise  the  report  of  spooks  and  connect  the  noises  with 
the  drover's  murder.  I  know  that  the  landlord  dis- 
charged the  hostler  after  my  mother's  scare,  but  it  was 
for  appearance'  sake  he  done  it.  She  saw  things  too 
plain  that  night,  and  she  was  quite  bad  cross  at  the  idea 
that  she  wouldn't  have  kno^wn  a  drunken  hostler  from 
an  awful-looking  spook,  and  I'm  sure  she  was  right  too. 
It  was  Jim  Fetzer's  grandfather's  ghost  she  saw  that 
night,  clean  down  honest  I  " 

As  Hahn  finished  his  story,  the  clock  gave  the  warn- 
ing sound  for  eleven.  The  watchers  started  to  their 
feet  as  though  a  strong  electric  current  had  passed 
through  them.  It  reminded  them  that  in  an  hour  it 
would  be  midnight.  Almost  mechanically  they  once 
more  proceeded  to  the  sitting-room.  Reentering  the 
death-chamber  they  noticed  that  the  last  hour  was  already 
one-fourth  gone,  and  that  it  was  tune  to  remove  the 
sheet  from  the  face  of  the  corpse.  During  the  remain- 
ing minutes  not  a  word  was  spoken  by  any  one.  They 
sat  close  together,  all  facing  the  body.     When  but  ten 


472  ENEMIES   IN   THE   BEAR; 

more  minutes  of  midniglit  were  lacking  they  looked  at 
each  other,  got  up  and  approached  the  cooling  -board. 
Their  faces  were  pale,  their  hands  trembled  and  their 
breath  came  thick  and  fast,  as  when  a  man  is  facing  a 
mortal  danger.  How  they  wished  they  were  elsewhere  ! 
Yet  they  could  not  have  turned  their  backs  on  the  body 
lying  so  quietly  before  them  without  being  panic-stricken 
at  once.  When  the  steady  old  clock  gave  the  warning 
for  midnight  they  started  again,  though  they  had  tried 
to  prepare  themselves  for  it.  They  did  not  look  at  the 
clock  nor  at  each  other,  but  at  the  dead  lips  —  held  as 
it  were  by  a  spell. 

At  the  first  whir  of  the  fly-wheel  they  bent  down 
low  and  listened  intently.  Just  as  the  first  stroke  of  the 
hammer  fell,  an  owl  flapped  against  the  window  and 
uttered  a  doleful  screech.  For  a  moment  their  attention 
was  distracted  from  the  corpse,  and,  mingled  with  the 
solenm  striking  of  the  clock,  an  unearthly  voice 
shrieked  "  Hans  Prantman  !     Curse  him  !  " 

It  was  more  than  poor,  superstitious  human  nature 
could  endure  and  pell-mell  they  all  rushed  out  of  the 
Todeskammer  into  the  sitting-room,  upsetting  two  or 
three  chairs  and  the  big  sawdust  spittoon  in  their  flight. 
There  they  made  a  stand  and  after  a  few  moments 
went  back  as  far  as  the  door  and  peered  into  the  room 
from  which  they  had  just  retreated.  They  saw  nothing 
amiss.  All  was  quiet.  The  deceased  lay  there  with 
hands  folded  and  eyes  and  lips  closed.  Done  with  this 
world    surely    forever    was    he ;    no    secrets    had    he 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  473 

to  reveal ;  Ms  loves  and  his  hates  had  perished  for 
aye. 

"  I  had  just  turned  from  the  window  there  and  I  saw 
his  lips  move,"  said  Hahn  after  they  had  partially  re- 
covered from  their  fright. 

"  What  do  you  think  he  said  ?  "  asked  Prantman,  the 
sweat  standing  like'beads  on  his  forehead. 

"  Said  !  "  exclaimed  Pfannkuchen.  "  I  think  you 
know  what  your  name  is." 

"  Lean  on  that,"  said  INIehlhuber  venturing  into  the 
death-chamber  a  step,  but  immediately  backing  out 
again  ;  "  and  I'm  quite  sure  he  lifted  a  finger  an  inch  or 
so  and  pointed  at  you,  Hans." 

'■'■  Alle  f/ute  Geister  —  but  I'm  sure  that  I  didn't  — 
ach  Gott  —  Galsch,"  said  Hans  in  an  agony  while  the 
others  looked  at  each  other  significantly. 

"  No,"  said  the  miller  with  what  was  as  near  to  a 
sneer  as  he  could  come,  "  but  I  will  get  the  plagues  he 
may  mean  that  you  kept  him  from  reporting  and  so  are 
the  cause  of  his  death." 

"  But,  Sacrament !  I'm  no  worse  in  that  there  than 
Huber  and  you  and  all  the  rest,"  retorted  Prantman 
partly  recovering  his  wits  again. 

"  Maybe,  but  you  know  how  people  talked  about  Jim's 
—  well,  he  said  '  Prantman  '  and  something  else  and 
I'm  sure  about  the  finger,"  said  Mehlhuber  stubbornly. 

"  I  don't  know  what  he  said,"  answered  Prantman, 
"but  anyhow  we're  all  good  Knights  and  you  won't  say 
anything  about  this  here  thing,  for  if  it  got  out,  people 


474  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR; 

would  only  laugh  and  say  we  was  all  drunk  —  especial- 
ly tliem  Radicals." 

They  all  agreed  to  keep  the  awful  manifestations  of 
the  night  a  secret.  Next  a  journey  was  made  to  the 
cellar  to  replenish  the  bottle  from  the  demijolin,  after 
which  the  watch  was  continued,  but  from  the  sitting- 
room.  Not  until  the  first  streaks  of  day  broke  through 
the  windows  did  they  venture  into  the  Todeskammer  to 
replace  the  sheet  over  the  dead  man's  face.  With 
returning  light  however  courage  revived.  Andrew 
Pfannkuchen  soon  forgot  his  promise,  and  by  the  time 
the  people  gathered  at  the  house  for  the  funeral,  all  the 
particulars  of  the  incidents  of  the  preceding  night  were 
known  and  freely  bandied  from  mouth  to  mouth. 
Gossips  shook  their  heads  wisely  when  they  heard 
of  Hans  Prantman's  agitation,  and  the  murder  of  James 
Fetzer's  father  at  the  Cross-rock  was  talked  of  almost  as 
much  as  the  untimely  taking  off  of  James  himself. 

There  were  two  persons,  though  —  to  say  nothing  of 
Doctor  Heifer,  Jabez  Chetwynde  and  others  —  who  had 
no  faith  in  the  gruesome  tale  which  in  due  time  was 
borne  to  their  ears.  They  were  Tom  Hartnagel  and 
William  Galsch,  better  known  as  Sharp  Billy,  and  when 
the  Yankee  with  a  cm-ious  smile  inquired  of  his  hired 
man  what  he  thought  of  the  matter,  Tom  smiled  back 
and  said  he  had  heard  his  father  say  that  some  very 
strange  things  had  happened  in  New  England  years  ago, 
and  why  might  not  similar  things  occur  m  Pennsylvania, 
for  it  was  not  at  all  behind  the  former. 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  475 

Perhaps  Christian  Mehlhuber's  fears,  and  the  pleas- 
ant looking  bottle  on  the  bureau  by  the  open  Bible  and 
hymn-book  accounted  for  the  hfting  up  of  the  finger. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

A  FUXERAL,  AND  A  rXIN"ERAL  SEEMON. 

"  Hier,  Mensch,  hler  lerne  was  du  bistl 
Lern  hier  was  iinser  Leben  ist, 
Nach  Sorge,  Furcht  und  mancher  Noth 
Kommt  endlich  noch  zuletzt  der  Todl  " 

It  need  hardly  be  said  that  the  funeral  of  James 
Fetzer  was  very  large.  The  weather,  indeed,  was 
unpropitious.  There  were  clouds,  fog  and  rain,  and  the 
roads  were  thick  with  mud.  Notwithstanding  these 
drawbacks  early  on  Wednesday  morning  people  began 
to  gather  at  the  old  church  on  the  hill  and  at  Hans 
Prantman's  house.  The  fact  that  Fetzer  had  been  shot 
by  a  soldier,  curiosity  to  learn  what  had  occurred  at  the 
watch  of  the  precedmg  night,  the  prospect  of  a  bounti- 
ful dinner  after  the  services,  and  the  further  circum- 
stance that  the  Reverend  William  Heimer  was  to  offici- 
ate, would  have  called  a  great  throng  of  people  together 
even  had  the  weather  been  much  worse  than  it  was. 

At  the  house,  as  is  customary  at  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
funerals,  not  only  were  a  hymn  sung  and  a  prayer 
offered,  but  an  address  of  considerable  length  was  made 
by  the  preacher.  The  burden  of  this  address  was  the 
uncertainty  of  man's  life  and  the  need  of  bemg  at  all 
times  prepared  for  death.     No  allusion  was  made  to  the 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  477 

war  or  the  manner  of  Fetzer's  death.  The  people  were 
somewhat  disappointed.  They  expected  and  desired 
strong  meat  right  from  the  start.  Knowing  that  nearly 
all  present  would  go  to  the  church  and  that  he  would 
have  an  immense  audience,  Heimer  purposely  reserved 
these  parts  of  his  discourse. 

The  services  here  ended,  the  procession  was  formed 
under  the  direction  of  the  "coffin-maker,"  as  the  under- 
taker was  called.  First  came  the  Reverend  William 
Heimer  in  an  open  buggy,  looking  like  the  leader  of  a 
triumphal  procession,  next  the  bearers  in  a  "  democrat  " 
or  spring  wagon  and  after  these  the  hearse.  The 
waffon  followino;  nearest  the  latter  contained  Pete 
Prantman  and  old  Mrs.  Fetzer,  James'  mother.  Then 
came  Prantman,  senior,  and  his  wife,  followed  by  Amos 
and  Margaret,  and  vehicles  of  all  descriptions  filled  with 
neighbors.  Slowly  the  long  train  — ■  one  of  the  longest 
ever  seen  in  the  township  to  Copton  —  passed  through 
Haltfest  and  up  the  terraces  to  the  church.  Outside, 
about  the  principal  entrance  to  the  graveyard  a  great 
multitude  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  funeral  cortege, 
regardless  of  the  rain.  They  had  poured  out  of  the 
building  the  moment  the  first  stroke  of  the  bell  announced 
its  near  approach. 

Among  the  Pennsylvania  Germans  the  dead  are  seldom 
taken  into  the  church  and  in  all  the  history  of  this  old 
building  so  far  as  known  no  corpse  had  ever  been  carried 
into  it  at  a  funeral.  The  "  viewing  "  is  done  outside. 
When,  therefore,  the  procession  arrived,  the  bier    was 


478  ENEMIES   IN    THE   REAK  ; 

set  in  its  usual  place  near  the  main  gateway  of  the 
graveyard  and  the  cofl&n  was  taken  from  the  hearse  and 
placed  upon  it.  Those  Avho  had  not  gone  to  the  house 
were  very  anxious  to  see  the  dead  man's  face,  and  no 
sooner  were  the  lids  of  the  coffin  laid  back  than  the 
throng  made  a  rush.  The  word  "  rush "  is  used 
advisedly.  It  describes  just  what  occurred  and  what  in 
a  modified  form  may  still  be  seen  at  any  large  funeral 
in  the  community.  Instead  of  forming  a  line  and  thus 
giving  all  who  desire  to  do  so  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
the  body  without  being  compelled  to  elbow  and  jostle 
their  neighbors,  this  unseemly  way  has  obtained  genera- 
tion after  generation.  The  pushing  and  stretching  of 
necks  remind  the  spectator  of  men,  women  and  boys 
trying  to  approach  the  ticket-wagon  at  a  circus. 

On  the  present  occasion  it  was  again  a  triumph  of  the 
tallest  and  the  strongest.  Instead  of  casting  a  glance  at 
the  body  and  then  giving  way  to  others,  these  persisted 
in  lingering  close  to  the  coffin.  Thus  the  women  on  the 
edge  of  the  crowd  had  no  chance  whatever  of  satisfying 
their  curiosity.  The  steadily  falling  rain  made  matters 
all  the  more  aggravating. 

"  Look  once  at  Jared  Katzbauer  there,"  said  a  sour- 
looking  middle-aged  woman  who  could  not  get  near,  "  he 
ought  to  be  ashamed  of  himself.  Somebody  ought  to 
twist  his  long  neck.  Why  can't  he  make  room  for  other 
people  as  good  as  himself?  There  he  stands,  the 
big  dog !  " 

But,  my  friend,  Katzbauer  is  only  avaihng  himself  of 


OR,    A    GOLDEN"    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  479 

what  custom  sanctioned  and  his  superior  height  and 
strength  enabled  him  to  attain.  He  is  utterly  uncon- 
scious of  any  impropriety.  He  is  only  doing  what  he 
has  seen  done  without  rebuke  since  childhood.  Do  not 
censure  him.  Blame  rather  the  abominable  inertia, 
born  of  stupid  conservatism,  that  will  resist  and  charac- 
terize as  impious  an  innovation  even  in  the  direction  of 
decency  and  Christian  courtesy. 

"Say!  you  Jared,"  said  this  same  woman  in  a  very 
loud  Avhisjjer  to  this  same  Jared  Katzbauer  as  soon  as 
she  found  opportunity, —  ''is  his  face  black?  How  did 
he  look  ?  Has  Fetzer  turned  black  ?  " 

There  was  a  pause  in  the  pushing  and  scrambUng 
however  when  Pete  Prantman  brought  the  mother  of 
the  deceased  to  the  coffin.  A  wail  of  agony  burst  from 
her  with  the  first  look  at  her  dead  child's  face.  Her  sor- 
row was  perhaps  all  the  more  poignant  because  there 
were  so  few  evidences  of  any  in  those  about  her.  Owing 
to  her  poverty  she  had  been  compelled  to  give  her  only 
child  to  strangers,  but  he  was  still  her  son  and  her  con- 
solation. He  visited  her  frequently  and  however  rough 
he  might  be  in  the  company  of  others,  to  her  he  was 
always  kind  and  gentle.  Now  he  was  gone.  The  light 
of  her  life  Avas  piit  out.  No  wonder  she  threw  herself 
on  the  coffin  and  kissed  the  face  and  smoothed  the  brow 
of  her  child,  weeping  the  while  as  only  a  mother  bereft 
can  weep  and  exclaiming  like  David  of  old,  "My  son,  my 
son  !  " 

Ah  I  mother  !  — -  earliest  and  best  friend.      Who  truer 


480  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR; 

than  she  ?  Who  as  true  ?  If  her  son  is  virtuous  and 
comes  to  honor,  she  rejoices  as  none  other ;  if  he  for- 
sakes her  instruction  and  stains  his  soul  Avith  crime,  her 
prayers  still  ascend  for  him.  When  he  is  glad  she 
laughs  with  him,  when  trouble  comes  her  voice  soothes 
him,  when  all  forsake  him  she  clings  to  him.  Into  the 
prison,  to  the  gallows'  foot,  she  follows  him,  and  when 
the  highest  penalty  has  been  paid  her  hand  still  strokes 
his  sin-hardened  brow  as  in  the  days  of  his  innocent 
childhood.  No  marvel  that  God's  displeasure  rests 
upon  the  son  who  fails  to  honor  his  mother ! 

After  a  few  moments  the  stricken  widow  was  led 
gently  away  from  the  coffin.  Then  ensued  another 
brief  struggle  to  see  the  remains,  ended  by  the  closing  of 
the  coffin  lids.  Next  the  minister  announced  the  Avords 
which  at  every  funeral  durmg  decades  had  been  sung  on 
the  same  spot : 

"Was  Gott  thut  das  ist  -wohl  gethan, 
Es  bleibt  gerecht  sein  Wille, 
Wie  er  faengt  meine  Sachen  an 
Will  icli  ibm  lialten  stille. 

Er  ist  niein  Gott, 

Der  in  der  Noth 
Mich  vvolil  weisz  zu  erhalten  ; 
D'rum  lass'  icb  ilin  nur  walten." 

When  all  but  the  last  two  lines  of  this  stanza  of 
Nodigast's  beautiful  lyric  were  sung,  led  by  the  shrill 
voice  of  Nathan  Geiger,  the  minister  gave  a  signal,  the 
bearers  lifted  the  bier  and  the  procession  made  its  way 


OE,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  481 

to  the  grave,  the  remaining  lines  being  smig  as  it  moved 
slowly  along.  At  the  grave  the  clergyman  spoke  the 
words  of  committal,  which  were  followed  by  the  singing 
of  thi'ee  verses  of  the  grand  old  burial  hymn  :  — 

"IS'un  bringen  wir  den  Leib  zur  Ruh,' 
Unil  decken  ibn  niit  Eide  zu, 
Den  Leib,  der  nacb  des  Scboepfer's  Scblusz, 
Zu  Staub  und  Asche  werden  musz." 

All  who  had  come  to  the  grave  —  except  the  bearers, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  make  and  to  close  up  the  latter  — 
then  went  into  the  church.  Nearly  all  the  pews  save 
those  reserved  for  the  mourners  were  already  filled  with 
persons  who  had  not  gone  to  the  grave  for  fear  of  not 
being  able  to  enter  the  church  at  all  if  they  did.  The 
Vorsteher  placed  seats  in  the  aisles,  and  when  the  serv- 
ice beo;an  the  audience  was  almost  as  laro;e  as  the  one 
gathered  there  a  month  before.  Doctor  Heifer,  as  was 
his  wont,  sat  in  the  east  gallery  near  the  head  of  the 
stairs,  so  that  if  he  were  needed  suddenly  he  could 
readily  make  his  way  out.  Near  him  sat  Tom  Hartnagel 
and  opposite  in  the  west  gallery  Frederick  Ruthvon  and 
Jabez  Chetwynde  side  by  side.  Squire  Zweispringer 
was  seated  below,  back  of  the  officials.  None  of  those 
named  had  gone  to  the  house,  but  by  their  presence  at 
the  church  they  were  manifesting  their  sympathy  with 
the  bereaved  mother. 

The  Reverend  William  Heimer  entered  the  pulpit 
and  almost  every  eye  was  upon  him.  He  looked  more 
important  and  self-conscious  than  when  he  preached  the 


482  ENEMIES   EST   THE   HEAR; 

"  draft  sermon,"  as  the  effort  of  October  19th  was  called, 
and  the  air  of  authority  and  dogmatism  was  more 
clearly  emphasized.  When  the  usual  preliminary  exer- 
cises were  concluded  he  arose  and  announced  his  text. 
It  was  the  seventh,  eighth  and  ninth  verses  of  the  fifty- 
ninth  chapter  of  Isaiah  :  — 

"Their  feet  run  to  evil,  and  they  make  haste  to  shed  innocent 
blood :  their  thoughts  are  thoughts  of  iniquity ;  wasting  and  destruc- 
tion are  in  their  paths. 

The  way  of  peace  they  know  not ;  and  there  is  no  judgment  in 
their  goings  :  they  have  made  them  crooked  paths :  whosoever  goeth 
therein  shall  not  know  peace. 

Therefore  is  judgment  far  from  us,  neither  doth  justice  overtake 
us:  we  wait  for  light,  but  behold  obscurity;  for  brightness,  but  we 
walk  in  darkness." 

Just  as  he  finished  reading  the  text  the  west  door 
opened  and  the  bearers,  or  "  grave-makers,"  came  into 
the  church  and  seated  themselves  on  the  white  bench 
reserved  for  them  in  the  aisle,  retaining  their  hats  on 
their  heads.  They  had  hurried  the  work  of  closing  up 
the  grave.  Hence,  instead  of  coining  in  when  the  ser- 
mon was  haK  over,  as  was  commonly  the  case,  they  had 
completed  their  duties  in  time  for  the  entire  discourse. 
Eveiy  one  of  them  had  been  in  the  rescuing  party, 
and  all  were  deeply  interested  listeners.  The  mmister 
paused  until  the  stir  had  subsided  and  then  began  his 
sermon. 

"  These  are  indeed  evil  times,"  said  he,  taking  a  sur- 
vey of  his  audience.  "  We  have  had  war  two  entire 
summers  and  one  winter,  and  now  when  for  the  second 


OR,     A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  483 

time  tlie  dead  leaves  from  yonder  woods  are  blown  over 
the  God's  Acre,  the  end  seems  as  far  off  as  ever.  Your 
treasures  are  being  wasted,  the  morals  of  the  nation  cor- 
rupted. Wickedness  with  brazen  front  stalks  forth  at 
noonday,  the  pestilence  wastes,  the  arrow  flies  and  strikes 
the  heart.  Many  of  your  sons  are  on  the  tented  field, 
some  have  been  slain  and  to-day  you  are  gathered  here 
a  congregation  of  mourners." 

The  silence  was  almost  like  that  of  James  Fetzer's 
grave  itself,  and  Heimer  with  much  animation  went  on 
to  describe  the  evils  that  must  yet  follow  those  already 
experienced  if  this  unholy  strife  between  the  North  and 
the  South  did  not  soon  cease. 

"And  who  can  tell  why  all  this  is?"  he  exclaimed 
excitedly.  A  rather  loud  "  Hem ! "  with  a  sarcastic 
interrogative  turn  was  heard  in  the  east  gallery  as  if  in 
response  to  the  orator's  question.  Dozens  of  heads  were 
turned  in  the  direction  of  Doctor  Heifer,  but  he  looked 
so  unconscious  and  intent  on  the  minister  that  no  one 
could  positively  say  he  had  vittered  the  exclamation. 
Heimer  quickly  interpreted  the  sound,  and  it  acted  like 
the  spur  on  a  fiery  steed. 

"  What  brought  our  young  friend  to  his  untimely 
grave  ?  "  he  asked  looking  steadily  toward  the  quarter 
where  Heifer  sat.  "  It  was  not  wasting  disease,  nor 
accident.  It  was  a  bullet  from  a  rifle  deliberately  aimed 
at  him.  He  was  strong,  generous,  kind-hearted  and 
deeply  attached  to  his  widowed  and  now  heart-broken 
mother."     (Here    Mrs.   Fetzer  began  to  sob    bitterly.) 


484  EISTEMIES    IN    THE   REAR  ; 

"  Four  years  ago  lie  became  a  member  of  this  cliurcli  by 
confirmation  and  was  admitted  to  the  Lord's  table,  after 
a  course  of  catechetical  instruction  under  his  aged  and 
beloved  pastor.  Only  a  few  weeks  ago  he  was  present, 
I  am  informed,  in  this  temple  to  hear  the  gospel  as 
it  fell  from  the  lips  of  him  who  addresses  you  to-day." 
(Another  loud  "  Hem  !  "  from  Doctor  Heifer's  direction 
and,  it  is  to  be  feared,  from  his  mouth.)  "  Now  he  has 
disappeared  in  the  dark  grave.  And  why  ?  Because 
he  sought  to  escape  from  the  hands  of  those  who  he 
believed  wrongfully  restrained  him  of  his  liberty  and 
who  tried  to  force  him  into  a  service  he  detested  in  com- 
mon with  tens  of  thousands  of  good  and  true  men 
throughout  the  land.  The  President  of  the  Northern 
states  has  promulgated  a  proclamation  which  is  to  take 
effect  next  New  Year's  Day.  If  it  can  be  carried  out,  it 
will  rob  multitudes  of  people  of  the  property  guaranteed 
them  by  the  Constitution  and  the  laws  of  God,  and  will 
pour  into  the  North  millions  of  ignorant,  savage  beings. 
And  I  say  that  because  the  deceased  shrank  from  help- 
ing to  carry  out  this  unholy  j)roclamation  he  lies  in  his 
grave  at  the  present  moment  ?  " 

Doctor  Heifer  glared  on  the  preacher  and  his  enemies 
report  that  at  this  point  he  used  language  that  would 
have  uncanonized  him  had  he  been  a  saint,  but  the 
affirmative  nods  of  many  heads  gave  proof  that  the  mass 
of  the  audience  was  in  hearty  accord  with  Heimer. 
The  latter  was  now  fully  wi'oiight  up  and  proceeded  to 
describe  the  rulers  of  the  nation,  their  acts  and  the  con- 


OE,    A   GOLDElSr   CIECLE   SQUARED.  485 

sequences.  He  said  the  text  was  quoted  by  Paul  and 
set  forth  the  unregenerate.  Our  rulers  did  not  know 
the  way  of  peace ;  their  goings  were  all  wrong  ;  they 
thought  of  gain  only ;  the  public  good  was  not  in  their 
view.  Their  acts  naturally  corresponded.  They  desired 
to  continue  this  Avar  for  gain  and  hence  less  than  two 
weeks  ago  had  removed  from  the  chief  command  of  the 
army  General  McClellan,  the  only  man  who  could  have 
brought  us  peace.  They  drafted  our  sons  and  for  a 
price  permitted  the  rich  and  favored  to  escape.  They 
arrested  men  who  are  better  than  themselves  and  shot 
them  down  in  cold  blood  if  they  resisted. 

Having  elaborated  these  points,  he  concluded  as  fol- 
lows :  "  Thus  Ave  are  filled  with  sadness,  the  land  groans 
under  its  burdens  and  is  covered  with  darkness.  '  We 
wait  for  light,  but  behold  obscurity ;  for  brightness,  but 
we  walk  in  darkness.'  We  must  bear  much  for  the  sake 
of  peace ;  we  must  suffer  patiently,  for  in  so  doing  we 
but  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  our  Divine  Redeemer,  who 
will  comfort  you,  the  childless  widow,  and  you  who 
brought  up  the  departed  one  as  if  he  had  been  your  own 
child,  and  enable  you  to  pray  even  for  them  who  took 
his  young  life.  But,  beloved  in  the  Lord,  when  our 
hearts  are  filled  with  anguish  because  of  them  that  are 
slain  without  a  just  reason  and  our  burdens  seem  heavier 
than  we  can  bear,  is  it  any  wonder  if  we  sometimes 
speak  harshly  of  our  rulers  even  while  we  counsel  for- 
bearance from  acts  of  violence,  and  occasionally  feel 
bitter  toward  our  neighbors  who  by  their  words  and  acts 


486  ENEMIES    rN    THE    REAR  : 

encourage  the  oppressor  and  have  no  sympathy  for  us  in 
our  distresses?  " 

Here  he  looted  around  upon  the  entire  audience  as  if 
to  bid  defiance  to  any  who  did  not  agree  with  him,  and 
spolie  with  great  emphasis  and  impressive  delibera- 
tion :  — •  "  And  when  I  recall  the  calm  face  of  him  whose 
body  we  have  but  now  committed  to  the  earth  there  to 
await  the  resurrection  of  the  just  at  the  Youngest  Day, 
when  I  think  of  the  thousands  slain  and  of  the  homes 
made  desolate  in  the  North  and  in  the  South, — then  I 
am  constrained  to  say  that  Abraham  Lincoln  is  an 
unscrupulous  tyrant !  Nay,  would  I  be  far  away  from 
the  truth  were  I  to  pronounce  him  a  ruthless  murderer  ? 
James  Fetzer  lies  in  his  grave  guilty  of  no  wrong,  a 
martyr  in  a  good  cause.  The  dear  Lord  God  comfort 
his  sorrowmg  mother  and  be  gracious  to  all  his  people. 
Amen." 

A  murmur  was  heard  throughout  the  congregation 
when  the  sermon  was  ended.  It  was  mostly,  though  by 
no  means  in  every  instance,  of  assent.  Some  were  too 
much  awed  to  give  any  sign.  The  authorities  denounced 
so  roundly  were  mighty  and  the  language  of  the  preacher 
was  dangerous. 

Frederick  Ruthvon  hung  his  head,  like  a  man  in  deep 
thought.  Jabez  Chetwynde  did  not  know  enough  of  the 
language  to  be  able  to  comprehend  the  import  of  the 
discourse  in  that  way  but  with  his  Yankee  shrewdness 
and  intelligence  he  interpreted  it  with  a  good  degree  of 
accuracy  from  the  looks  and  manner  of   the  audience. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  487 

As  if  the  air  had  grown  too  close  for  him  to  breathe, 
Doctor  Heifer  arose  and  left  the  church,  and  Tom  Hart- 
nagel,  to  enter  as  it  were  his  protest  against  the  ser- 
mon, likewise  got  up  and  with  a  defiant  ah-  followed  the 
doctor,  with  the  full  approval  of  Sallie  Vonneida  and 
Susie  Zweispringer  who  sat  together  in  one  of  the  pews 
under  the  west  gallery. 

Before  the  last  hymn  was  sung  the  minister  read  the 
personalia  or  obituary.  On  behalf  of  the  Leidtragenden 
or  mourners  he  likewise  returned  thanks  to  all  who  had 
shown  kindness,  and  extended  the  usual  invitation  to  all 
"to  return  to  the  house  of  mourning  to  partake  of  such 
refreshments  as  might  be  set  before  them."  After  the 
hymn  he  pronounced  the  benediction  and  the  audience 
began  slowly  •  to  disperse.  The  Reverend  William 
Heimer  descended  from  the  pulpit  and  Hans  Prantman 
at  once  went  up  to  him  and  gave  him  his  fee,  after  the 
manner  of  all  the  people,  rich  and  poor,  of  the  two  prin- 
cipal denominations.  Dame  Rumor  afterwards  said  that 
he  was  so  much  pleased  with  Heimer's  effort  that  he 
gave  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents,  but  she  was  at 
once  flatly  accused  of  saying  what  was  incredible. 

Numbers  of  men  and  Avomen  shook  hands  with  the 
preacher  and  congratulated  him  on  his  great  sermon. 

"It's  just  what  the  black  thieves  need,"  said  Deacon 
Fettig,  "and  if  all  the  preachers  did  speak  like  that, 
this  here  war  would  soon  be  over,  plague  take  it ! '' 
But  we  thank  God,  deacon,  that  very  few  of  them  did 
in  the  North ! 


488  ENEMIES   IN    THE    REAE. 

The  funeral  services  were  over  but  the  funeral  feast- 
ing Avas  yet  to  come.  The  people  were  now  in  full  re- 
treat from  the  church  and,  on  foot,  ahorseback,  in 
carriages  and  wagons,  in  spite  of  weather  and  roads,  at 
least  one  half  of  them  were  wending  their  way  to  the 
house  of  Hans  Prantman.  Ad  Sparger  woke  up  in  good 
time  and  hurried  away  at  his  best  gait.  The  goal  of 
his  ambition  for  to-day  was  to  sit  at  the  first  table,  at 
which  the  minister  would  eat.  As  he  had  been  one  of 
the  watchers  he  would  likely  accomplish  his  purpose  if 
he  were  at  the  house  in  time.  Let  us  follow  him  and 
look  upon  a  Pennsylvania  Dutch  funeral  feast. 


CHAPTER  XLL 

A   PKNlSrSYLVAISriA   DUTCH    FUNERAL    FEAST. 

The  preparations  for  the  feast  after  ths  funeral  of 
James  Fetzer  were  on  a  large  S3ale.  The  like  had  sel- 
dom been  seen  even  in  a  community  where  "big  fu- 
nerals "  were  so  common.  Seventy-five  chickens,  ducks 
and  turkeys,  three  calves,  an  ox  and  a  hog,  were 
slaughtered  for  the  occasion.  Four  hundred  pies  such 
as  only  Pennsylvania  Dutch  housewives  can  make,  and 
one  hundred  loaves  of  bread,  besides  cakes  innumerable 
of  all  kinds,  were  hiked;  and  all  the  accessories  needed 
to  make  a  Dutch  funeral  table  full-orbed  and  complete, 
so  to  speak,  were  provided  in  profusion. 

Be  it  remembered  that  among  these  folk,  in  country 
places,  the  house  of  mourning  becomes  a  house  of  feast- 
ing just  as  soon  as  the  dead  body  has  left  it.  The  min- 
ister indeed  invites  the  people  back  to  "  the  house  of 
mourning,"  but  it  has  ceased  to  be  such,  at  least  in  the 
sense  in  Avhich  Solomon  speaks  of  it.  A  wedding  is 
made  little  of.  A  couple  agree  to  get  married,  the 
groom  places  his  bride  in  a  carriage  —  or  perhaps  they 
journey  on  foot, —  and  off  they  go  to  the  pastor's  house 
and  are  united  in  the  holy  bonds.  No  one  takes  much 
notice  of  the  event  unless  it  be  the  young  men  and  boys 
of  the  neighborhood,  who  will  probably  greet  the  newly 


490  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR  ; 

wedded  pair  with  a  charivari  on  their  return.  Likely 
there  are  no  invited  guests  and  no  special  meal. 

But  a  funeral  without  feasting  —  that  would  be  a 
novelty  indeed.  The  poorest  man  m  the  community 
would  deem  himself  disgraced  if  the  people  attending 
the  obsequies  of  a  member  of  his  family  were  not 
invited  to  return  to  the  house  after  the  services  at  the 
church,  "  to  partake  of  such  refreshments  as  may  be  set 
before  them,"  and  in  numerous  cases  families  have 
plunged  themselves  into  debt  in  order  to  provide  the 
eatables  necessary  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  a  semi- 
barbarous  custom.  The  bigness  of  a  funeral  is  gauged 
not  only  by  the  numbers  at  the  church,  but  also  by 
the  number  of  tables  filled  by  those  returning  to  the 
house.  Hence  when  a  member  of  an  old,  wealthy 
family  is  buried  it  is  a  matter  of  pride  to  the  survivors 
if  the  throng  of  guests  is  very  large. 

Among  the  ancient  Jews  there  were  professional 
mourners,  and  in  these  communities  on  funeral  occasions 
there  are  what  might  properly  be  called  professional 
eaters.  These  are  men  and  women  Avho  make  it  the 
great  business  of  their  lives  to  attend  every  funeral  for 
miles  around.  At  home  they  seldom  have  more  than 
enough  to  keep  body  and  soul  together.  They  hear  of  a 
funeral  with  glee,  and  a  journey  of  three  or  four  miles 
on  foot  through  rain  and  snow  is  nothing  to  them. 
They  may  not  go  to  the  church  at  all,  but  whether 
they  do  or  not,  they  are  always  found  promptly  on  hand 
at  "the  first  table,"  unless  the    number  of  immediate 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  491 

relatives  of  tlie  deceased  is  large  enough  to  fill  this  set, 
in  which  case  they  must  wait  for  "  der  zwet  disch." 
And  if  regard  for  the  dead  may  be  measured  by  eating 
and  drinking,  that  of  these  rounders  is  often  great 
indeed,  for  some  of  them  have  been  known  at  "  the 
house  of  mournmg"  without  much  apparent  effort  to 
drink  six  cups  of  coffee,  Pennsylvania  Dutch  size,  and 
to  eat  in  due  proportion. 

Those  who  are  cynically  inclined  may  speak  slight- 
ingly of  all  this  feasting  and  gorging  at  such  times  and 
hold  the  sorrow  of  the  feasters  and  stuffers  to  be  very 
shallow.  To  these  cynics  the  reply  is  that  high  author- 
ity informs  us  that  profound  grief  and  a  brave  appetite 
may  co-exist  in  the  same  individual  and  are  not  at  all 
incompatible  with  each  other,  especially  if  there  is  no 
anxiety  on  the  part  of  the  mourners  in  regard  to  the 
will  which  is  to  be  read  after  dinner.  Moreover,  it  were 
well  for  all  such  carpers  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  motives 
from  which  this  funeral  custom  sprung  had  their  root  in 
mistaken  kindness  and  courtesy,  and  that  while  at  these 
feasts  tongues  are  loosed  and  every-day  topics  are  often 
discussed,  the  best  of  order  and  decorum  is  commonly 
observed.  The  eating  and  drinking  are  hearty,  to  be 
sure,  but  the  guests  depart  pleased  with  themselves  for 
having  shown  regard  for  the  dead  and  sympathy  with 
the  hving,  pleased  with  the  sorrowing  family  for  provid- 
ing so  bountifully,  and  pleased  in  some  instances  with 
the  deceased  for  furnishing  the  occasion.  What  more 
does  the  objector  want? 


492  ENEMIES    IN   THE    REAR; 

When  the  people  arrived  from  the  church  the  lower 
part  of  the  Prantman  house  at  least  bore  quite  a  differ- 
ent appearance  from  that  which  it  presented  a  few  hours 
before.  The  carpet,  which  had  been  removed,  was 
relaid,  the  pictures  and  looking-glasses  once  more  showed 
their  faces,  the  old  Dutch  clock  ticked  away  steadily, 
the  Bible  and  hymn-book  were  closed  and  even  the 
pleasant  looking  bottle  hid  its  smiles  for  a  season  in  the 
cupboard.  The  sitting-room  and  the  front  room,  lately 
the  Todeskammer,  each  had  two  great  old-fashioned 
tables  set.  These  fairly  groaned  under  the  weight  of 
good  things — beef,  pork,  veal,  fowls,  pies,  cakes,  jellies, 
sauces,  slaw,  potatoes  —  time  would  fail  one  to  name 
them  all.  Old  as  it  was,  the  house  had  never  seen  such 
tables  before  —  certainly  not  since  Hans  Prantman 
became  its  owner. 

The  Reverend  William  Heimer,  smiling  very  gra- 
ciously, was  duly  on  hand.  He  was  seized  upon  as  soon 
as  he  arrived  by  Mrs.  Jemima  Gorgelmesser,  a  very 
stout,  asthmatic  old  lady,  and  shown  to  the  head  of  the 
tables  in  the  front  room.  For  much  the  same  reasons 
that  caused  him  to  hurry  away  after  preaching  to  the 
drafted  men  he  would  gladly  have  gone  directly  home 
from  the  church.  But  this  was  not  to  be  thouo-ht  of. 
No  end  of  unfavorable  comment  would  result  from  a 
failure  of  the  officiating  clergyman  to  return  to  "the 
house  of  mourning "  after  the  funeral  services  to  grace 
the  feast  by  his  presence,  unless  he  had  very  urgent  rea- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  493 

sons  for  absenting  himself.  So  Heimer  with  due  dignity 
and  solemnity  took  the  place  assigned  him. 

By  dint  of  the  most  rapid  walking  of  which  he  was 
capable  Ad  Sparger  reached  the  house  before  all  the 
tables  were  quite  filled.  He  was  in  a  perspiration  and 
his  shoes  and  nether  garments  were  covered  with  mud. 
Though  sober,  he  was  not  presentable.  At  one  of  the 
tables  in  the  sitting-room  there  was  one  empty  chair 
left.  Mrs.  Gorgelmesser,  who  directed  the  seating  of 
the  people,  wished  an  old  woman  who  came  hobbling 
into  the  apartment  to  occupy  this  vacant  seat,  but 
Sparger  wanted  it. 

"  I  was  a  watcher  Monday  night,"  he  said  in  a  low 
tone  ;  "  all  the  other  watchers  is  at  the  first  table  and  it 
is  my  right  to  be  at  it  too." 

"But  this  old  woman  has  far  to  go  and  you  will 
surely  let  her  sit  do^vn,"  was  the  conciliatory  reply. 

"  Anyhow  he  isn't  fit  to  sit  down  with  decent  people," 
said  a  sharp-tongued  assistant  who  stood  near. 

"  But  I  was  fit  to  be  asked  to  watch  and  so  ought  to 
be  fit  to  eat  at  the  first  table,"  he  retorted.  Meanwhile 
the  old  woman  in  question  quietly  decided  the  dispute 
by  sitting  down  in  the  seat  Sparger  coveted.  There 
was  a  good  deal  of  tittering  at  his  expense  among  those 
nearest  and  he  left  the  room  in  high  dudgeon.  Going 
into  the  kitchen  he  threw  down  his  battered  "  stove- 
pipe "  hat  by  the  stove  and  declared  he  would  not  eat 
at  all  now  but  would  complain  of  his  treatment  to  Hans 
Prantman. 


494  ENEMIES    IN   THE   EEAB; 

"It's  too  bad,"  lie  growled.  "I  don't  care  who  gets 
shot  next  and  I  won't  be  a  watcher  again,"  but  getting 
no  sympathy  he  became  quiet  and  the  sober  second 
thought  presently  led  him  to  alter  his  resolution  about 
refusmg  to  dine. 

All  being  quiet  at  last,  the  Reverend  William  Heimer 
said  a  very  brief  grace,  perhaps  to  make  up  for  lost  time. 
Probably,  too,  he  believed  with  a  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
Lutheran  preacher  of  a  somewhat  earlier  day  that  at 
meals  short  prayers  and  long  sausages  were  most  in  con- 
sonance with  each  other  and  the  fitness  of  things. 
When  the  eating  and  drinking  were  once  fairly  begun 
conversation  grew  brisk.  Heimer  resolved  if  possible  to 
keep  it  from  turning  to  war  matters  at  his  end  of  the 
table.  Mrs.  Fetzer  sat  next  to  him  on  his  right  and  he 
paid  much  attention  to  her.  On  his  left  were  Hans 
Prantman  and  his  wife  and  next  to  Mrs.  Fetzer  sat  Pete, 
Ret  and  Amos.  Pete  and  his  sister  had  no  time  to  talk 
at  the  beginning  of  the  meal  but  after  the  sharp  edge  of 
appetite  was  blunted  a  little  they  began  in  low  tones  to 
comment  to  each  other  on  the  food. 

"  My !  I  wish  there  was  a  burying  every  day,"  said 
Ret ;   "  isn't  this  good  eating,  Pete  ?  " 

"  Lean  on  that,  clean  down,"  answered  the  brother  in 
what  was  regarded  as  very  emphatic  language,  "  and  pap 
and  mam  will  make  us  eat  beans,  bacon  and  dry  bread 
and  drink  cold  water  all  winter,  to  make  up  and  save 
the  cost  of  this  here  funeral  of  Jim.  So  eat  all  you  can 
while  you've  got  the  chance,  Ret,  for  there's  about  ten 


OE,    A    GOLDEI^   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  495 

thousand  waiting  outside  and  there  won't  be  a  crust  left 
after  they're  all  done,"  and  at  it  they  went  with  fresh 
vigor,  fairly  gorging  themselves  with  the  rich  food. 

"You  have  been  a  widow  quite  awhile,"  said  Heimer 
to  Mrs.  Fetzer.  "  How  long  is  it  since  James'  father 
died  ? "  Mrs.  Fetzer  looked  embarrassed.  Heimer 
noticed  it,  and  supposing  it  to  be  caused  by  her  inability 
to  remember  the  exact  time  of  her  widowhood,  sought 
to  aid  her. 

"  He  died  of  a  fever,  I  believe  ?  "  said  he  interroga- 
tively. This  remark  was  unfortunate  and  made  matters 
worse.  Hans  Prantman  heard  the  turn  the  conversation 
had  taken  and  quickly  interposed. 

"  Help  yourself  now,  Herr  Parre,"*  he  said.  "  Take 
out  some  more  of  that  there  chicken  and  slaw.  Preach- 
ers all  like  chicken.  I  know  our's  all  run  when  they 
see  one  go  by  the  house.  Help  yourself.  You're  at  a 
farmer's  table  and  you  must  do  so  if  you  want  to  get 
something,"  and  he  laughed  heartily  at  his  wit. 

"  Oh,  I  understand,"  Heimer  replied.  "  I  was  raised 
a  farmer's  boy  and  know  a  farmer's  ways  and  how  to 
help  myself." 

"  I  think,  Herr  Parre,  you  heard  of  the  awful  shoot- 
ing of  another  young  neighbor  a  couple  of  weeks  ago," 
said  a  man  named  Zug  sitting  half  way  down  the  table 
and  speaking  very  loud. 

"Yes,  I  heard  of  it :   it  was  bad,"  answered  Heimer. 

*Mr.  Minister. 


496  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR; 

"It  seems  a  pity  to  some  people  that  he  didn't  shoot 
as  straight  as  the  soldier  who  afterwards  killed  him, 
ain't  it  does,  now  honest  ? "  said  Zug,  evidently  trying 
to  evoke  some  rash  expression  from  the  minister. 

"I  don't  quite  understand  you,"  returned  the  latter, 

"  Of  course  you  know  he  shot  and  wounded  a  Lincoln 
captain,  the  son  of  Fred  Ruthvon  ?  "  said  Zug. 

"  Yes,"  said  Heimer,  drawing  out  the  word  cautiously, 
for  everybody  nt  the  table  was  listening,  and  he  did  not 
know  whether  to  regard  Zug  as  a  friend  or  an  enemy. 

"  The  Lincolner  is  recovering." 

"  So  I  have  heard." 

"  If  he  hadn't,  it  might  have  been  better  for  you  and 
for  a  certain  lodge,  as  I  hear,  by  my  sex ! " 

"  So  !  "  said  Heimer,  reddening.  Zug  was  possessed 
of  a  strong  desire  to  be  seen  and  heard,  and  loved  to 
make  mischief  for  its  own  sake.  He  noticed  the  effect 
of  his  remark,  and  as  he  knew  nothing  about  delicacy  of 
feeling,  followed  it  up. 

"  I  heard  in  Reading,"  he  went  on,  "  that  your  draft 
sermon  in  our  church  was  all  reported  to  the  United 
States  Commissioner  there,  and  that  they  once  had  a 
notion  to  send  for  you.  Of  course  you  can  guess  who 
reported  you." 

The  laity  often  hear  what  does  not  reach  the  ears  of 
the  clergy,  and  so  it  really  happened  that  what  was 
talked  of  all  over  the  city,  had  not  yet  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  Reverend  William  Heimer.  He  was 
excited,  but  smiled,  and  tried  hard  to  keep  cool. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  497 

"  I  had  not  heard  anything  about  this,"  he  said.  — 
"  Mr.  Prantman,  thanks  for  a  little  more  bread.  Mrs. 
Worm  Schneider,  can  you  spare  me  another  tasse  of 
coffee  ?  —  Thanks.  —  But  I  think,  my  friend,  I  said 
nothing  but  the  truth." 

'•  My !  but  the  Herr  Parre  eats.  He  has  now  once 
an  appetite,  he  has !  "  whispered  Pete  to  his  sister. 

"  Yes,  I've  w^atched  him,"  replied  that  young  Avoman. 
"•  He's  had  four  pieces  of  chicken,  two  pieces  of  calf- 
meat  already,  slaw  three  times,  and  three  cups  of  coffee, 
and  by  my  sex,  he  doesn't  seem  to  be  near  done  yet." 

"  Huh,  huh  !  "  grvmted  the  brother  going  on  with  the 
stuffing  process. 

"  No,  I  think  you  didn't "  said  Zug  in  response  to 
Heimer's  last  remark,  ''but  you  know,  Herr  Parre,  these 

Radicals  often  twist  things  to  suit  themselves,  by 

whoa  !  I  pretty  near  swore  before  the  minister !  "  he 
whispered  to  his  next  neighbor,  while  he  blushed  scarlet 
and  the  people  snickered.  Heimer  took  advantage  of 
Zug's  confusion  to  ask  Prantman,  senior,  in  a  low  tone 
to  whom  Zug  referred  as  having  reported  his  sermon  to 
the  United  States  Commissioner. 

"  Oh,  he  means  that  young  Ruth  von  of  course,"  said 
Prantman. 

"So  I  thought ;  but  what  does  he  mean  by  saying 
it  would  have  been  better  for  me  and  a  certain  lodge 
if  this  captain  had  not  got  over  it  ?  —  Mrs  Gorgelmesser, 
that  is  glorious  apple-pie  ;  can  I  have  another  piece  ? 
Nice  thanks  !  " 


498  ENElVnES    TN    THE   REAR; 

'•  I  think  he  means  that  the  black  snake  will  report  you 
again,"  said  Prantman. 

"But  he  was  not  at  the  funeral  at  all,  was  he  ?  " 

"No,  but  his  father  was  and  Doctor  Heifer,  who 
doesn't  like  you  a  bit,  and  Tom  Hartnagel,  Ruthvon's 
penny-dog,  and  Nigger  C'hetwynde.  And  old  Fred 
Ruthvon  and  his  son  has  made  up  and  they  now  treat 
Tom  near  like  one  of  the  family,  and  so  he'll  hear  all 
you  said." 

"Yes,  and  Herr  Parre,"  said  Ret  shrilly,  "Sal  Von- 
neida  was  there  too,  and  Sus  Zweispringer,  and  what 
one  of  all  these  doesn't  know  the  others  do." 

"  Hold  your  mouth  now  once  and  don't  talk  so  loud,*'" 
said  Prantman  to  his  daughter.  "  Go  on  with  your 
eating. — Yes,  Herr  JNIinister,  you'll  no  doubt  get  reported 
but  you  know  we  —  you  know  who,  huh  ?  —  will  all 
stand  by  you." 

"Thanks,  but  I  think  they  can't  do  much  with  me.  — 
Peace  be  with  you  all."  He  rose,  and  those  who  yet 
remained  followed  his  example.  To  sit  at  table  after  the 
minister  left  it  Avas  thought  highly  discourteous,  though 
to  leave  it  as  soon  as  done  eating,  without  a  word  of 
apology,  was  no  breach  of  good  manners.  Zug  followed 
Heimer  into  the  hall. 

"  You  see  I  forgot  myself,"  said  he  to  the  minister, 
"  and  these  Lincolners  do  such  bad  things  that  one  must 
swear  sometimes." 

Heimer  laughed  and  remarked  that  mistakes  would 
happen  now  and  then. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  499 

In  a  short  time  ''  the  second  table  "  was  ready.  It 
was  promptly  filled,  Ad  Sparger  being  the  first  to  sit 
down  and  the  last  to  rise.  At  this  table  the  conversa- 
tion was  carried  on  with  less  constraint,  the  guests  being 
relieved  of  the  presence  of  the  minister.  The  shooting 
of  Fetzer  was  the  main  topic  and  the  act  was  bitterly 
denounced. 

"  I  believe  that  poor  Fetzer  named  the  wrong  man 
last  night,"  remarked  Christopher  Stettler.  "  Prantman 
had  nothing  to  do  with  this  here  thing  at  all.  Jim 
should  have  said  '  Lincoln  '  instead  of  'Prantman'  and  the 
two  names  is  so  very  near  alike  that  in  their  fear  Hahn 
and  the  rest  only  misunderstood  him,  that's  so."  Later 
Stettler  repeated  this  original  idea  at  "  The  People's 
Hotel."  It  was  taken  up  by  others  and  in  a  short  time 
most  people  believed  that  the  drafted  man  had  named 
Lincoln  and  not  Hans  Prantman  as  his  murderer. 

The  eating  and  drinking  continued  until  sunset,  but 
finally  the  last  guest  arose  from  the  table  and  departed 
and  the  funeral  of  James  Fetzer  had  become  a  part  of 
the  annals  of  the  neighborhood. 

On  leaving  "  the  house  of  mourning  "  —  which  he  did 
as  soon  as  he  could  consistently  with  common  courtesy  — 
the  Reverend  William  Heimer  drove  directly  to  Baltzer's 
at  Haltfest  and  at  the  bar  called  for  a  glass  of  lager- 
beer.  While  he  was  drinking  it  Mike  Hahn  and 
Andrew  Pfannkuchen  also  came  in,  followed  a  moment 
latter  by  Doctor  Heifer. 

''  Herr  Parre,  that  was.  once  a  good  sermon,  I'll  get 


500  ENEMIES    IN    THE    BEAR; 

the  plagues  !  "  said  Hahn.  "  You  can  beat  old  Dox  into 
the  ground,  I  must  say.  I  only  hope  there  won't  be  no 
trouble  about  it." 

"Oh,  no!  No  trouble  at  all,"  answered  Heimer.  "I 
said  nothing  out  of  the  way  and  it  would  never  do  for 
them  to  interfere  with  ministers  of  the  gospel. — Walk 
up  and  have  something,  you  people." 

Hahn  and  Pfannkuchcn  were  not  slow  to  accept  the 
preacher's  invitation  to  drink,  but  Doctor  Heifer  sat  still 
in  his  chair  and  with  the  freedom  afforded  by  the  ordi- 
nary bar-room  broke  in :  —  "  Never  do,  Mr.  Heimer  ? 
Never  do?  Suppose  ministers  preach  treason,  can't  the 
government  interfere  with  them  ?  " 

"  You  are  Doctor  Heifer  I  believe,"  said  Heimer 
blandly,  "  yes,  sir.  —  Well,  who,  let  me  ask.  Doctor  Hei- 
fer, has  preached  treason?" 

"  Ho  !  Herrschaft !  Gideon  !  Benjamin  !  "  —  (The  last 
three  words  it  may  reasonably  be  presumed  were  a  sub- 
stitute for  others  less  suitable  for  the  presence  of  a  min- 
ister.) "  If  you  didn't  this  morning,  then  I'd  like  to 
know  what  treasonable  preaching  is,  Mr.  Heimer." 

"  Shame  yourself  !  do  you  know  who  you're  talking 
to  ?  "  exclaimed  Hahn  with  a  show  of  great  indignation. 

"  I  do,  and  I  mean  just  every  word  I  say,"  replied  the 
doctor  rising  from  his  chair  and  speaking  with  mucli  heat. 
"  I  pity  poor  Fetzer.  It  wasn't  his  fault  that  he  didn't 
report  and  got  shot.  It  was  the  fault  of  older  people 
who  by  their  teaching  and  example  led  him  wrong.  It's 
said  he  spoke  Prantman's  name  last  night  as  that  of  his 


OE,     A   GOLDEN"   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  501 

murderer.  If  it's  true,  then  he  should  have  added  the 
name  of  the  Reverend  William  Heimer." 

"  That  is  a  serious  charge.  —  How  so  ?  "  said  Heimer, 
his  conflicting  emotions  causing  him  to  turn  red,  white 
and  blue  alternately. 

"  You  said  in  your  draft  sermon  last  month,"  an- 
swered Heifer  walking  close  up  to  Heimer  Avho  still 
stood  by  the  bar,  "  that  you'd  blame  no  man  who  failed 
to  report  when  drafted,  and  Jim  Fetzer  said  afterwards, 
in  my  hearing,  that  you  knew  what  you  were  about  and 
that  he  certainly  wouldn't  report  now,  because  he  knew 
it  would  be  all  right,  And  I  hope,  Mr.  Heimer,  that 
you'll  be  called  to  account  for  your  sermon  to-day." 

Heimer  had  recovered  himself  and  eyed  the  doctor 
steadily. 

"  Nice  thanks,"  he  said  very  sarcastically,  nose 
and  lip  both  curling  up ;  "  when  I  am,  may  I  call  on 
you  for  help  ?  " 

"  If  you  get  your  head  broken,  yes,"  replied  Heifer  in 
the  same  vein. 

"  Again  nice  thanks.  Doctor  Heifer." 

"  None  are  needed,  Mr.  Heimer.  You  will  deserve 
all  you  get  in  the  way  of  broken  bones,  and  my  services 
I'll  make  you  pay  for,  don't  you  forget,"  retorted  the 
angry  physician. 

"  Hold  your  mouth,"  said  Baltzer  from  behind  the  bar. 

"When  I'm  ready,  Dan." 

The  Reverend  WiUiam  Heimer  paid  for  the  drinks 
and  quietly  lit  a  cigar. 


502  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR. 

"  Good  day,  gentlemen,"  said  he  bowing  politely. 
He  left  the  hotel,  got  into  his  buggy  and  drove  away 
rapidly,  as  though  in  this  way  giving  vent  to  feelings 
he  dared  not  express  in  the  inn.  His  offensive  lan- 
guage became  known  to  United  States  Commissioner 
Olds  at  Reading  the  same  day  on  which  it  was  uttered, 
not  however  through  either  Tom  Hartnagel  or  Captain 
Ruth  von  but  through  the  gentleman  whom  we  met  at 
the  lower  hotel  in  Haltfest  on  the  evening  when  the 
tidings  came  from  Bull  Run  —  whom  the  Commissioner 
quietly  sent  to  the  funeral,  in  view  of  the  sermon  of 
October  19th.  A  few  days  later  the  clergyman  received 
a  communication  from  the  urbane  official  that  a  repeti- 
tion of  utterances  like  those  of  November  19th  at  the 
obsequies  of  James  Fetzer  might  possibly  be  held  as 
treasonable  and  be  followed  by  unpleasant  consequences. 

The  Reverend  William  Heimer  was  quick  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  this  notice  to  increase  his  notoriety.  On  the 
Sunday  after  its  reception  he  posed  in  his  pulpit  out  in 
the  township  of  Knocksdehudel  as  a  martyr  and  com- 
plained bitterly  to  his  people.  But,  like  a  child  with 
burnt  fingers,  he  was  very  careful  not  to  offend  again. 


CHAPTER    XLII. 


lilGHT    AND    SHADOW. 


One  Sunday  forenoon,  a  few  weeks  after  the  funeral 
of  James  Fetzer,  there  was  a  rap  on  the  front  door  of 
the  Ruthvon  mansion.  Captain  Ruthvon  answered  it 
and  a  young  man  introduced  himself  as  John  Hinton. 

"  Come  in,  come  in,  Mr.  Hinton,"  said  the  captain 
with  a  hearty  clasp  of  the  hand.  "  I  have  heard  my 
family  speak  very  highly  of  you  and  I  am  glad  to  meet 
you.  You  taught  the  school  at  Haltfest  last  winter,  I 
believe,  but  of  course  we  didn't  get  acquainted,  and 
since  you  began  your  present  term  I  haven't  been  out 
much,  but  now  I  trust  we  shall  meet  often." 

"Thank  you,  Captain  Ruthvon,  and  allow  me  to  con- 
gratulate you  on  your  recovery." 

"  I  am  doing  nicely  indeed,  and  the  folks  have  all 
gone  to  church.  I  told  them  I  could  remain  alone  that 
long  very  well." 

"Perhaps  I  should  have  gone  too  though  I  don't 
understand  the  language  very  well,  but  I  came  to  do  an 
errand  that  was  entrusted  to  me." 

"  Indeed !  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  Last  night  on  my  way  up  from  home  in 
Uwchlan,  Chester  county,  I  concluded  to  visit  one  of 
my  old   pupils,  Carl  Schlapphammel,  who  was  drafted 


504  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR  ; 

and  is  in  Camp  Terrell  near  Reading  with  tlie  other 
men.  I  thought  it  might  do  him  good  to  see  me.  So  I 
went  ont  and  had  no  trouble  in  finding  him.  He  was 
very  glad  to  see  me  and  insisted  on  my  remaining  and 
taking  a  soldier's  supper  with  him.  I  did  so  and  by  the 
time  we  got  through  and  talked  a  little  while  longer  it 
was  nine  o'clock.  Carl  is  an  orderly  sergeant  and  wrote 
a  pass  for  himself  and  me  through  the  picket  line.  He 
said  he  would  go  with  me  a  little  way  as  it  might  be 
the  last  time  we  would  see  each  other.  In  due  time 
the  sentry  challenged  us.  Like  all  the  other  sentries 
he  was  armed  simply  with  a  stout  club.  We  advanced 
and  Carl  handed  him  our  pass.  The  moon  ^as  shining 
brightly  and  the  soldier  could  see  us  distmctly.  To 
read  the  pass  though  he  had  to  strike  a  match  and  we 
leaned  over  him  as  he  hurriedly  perused  it.  The  thing 
was  ludicrous.  He  was  a  green  militia-man  and  had 
anything  important  been  at  stake,  we  could  have 
knocked  him  doA\ai  and  run  away  very  handily  !  There 
was  however  no  occasion.  The  pass  was  satisfactory 
and  we  were  permitted  to  go  on  our  way.  Carl  soon 
stopped  and  said  good  night  and  good-bye.  I  had  pro- 
ceeded but  a  short  distance  farther  toward  the  city 
wlieli  I  was  accosted  in  the  moonlight  by  a  soldier 
going  in  the  opposite  direction.  He  had  evidently 
been  on  the  lookout  for  me,  for  he  at  once  asked  me 
whether  my  name  was  Hinton,  the  teacher  at  Haltfest. 
On  answering  him  in  the  affirmative,  he  handed  me 
this  letter  and  asked  me  tD  deliver  it  to  you  in  person 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIUCLE   SQUARED.  505 

as  soon  as  I  could.  I  inquired  his  name  but  lie  said  lie 
would  rather  not  mention  it  and  that  he  wished  to  send 
the  letter  by  me  because  he  trusted  me  more  than  some 
of  the  postmasters.  I  thought,  Captain  Ruthvon,  this 
explanation  would  interest  you  and  that  it  might  possi- 
bly throw  some  light  on  the  contents  of  the  message. 
I  beg  pardon  for  my  long  prelude." 

"  I  am  much  obhged  to  you,  Mr.  Hinton,  for  deliver- 
ing the  letter  so  promptly,"  said  the  captain  when 
Hinton  ended  his  account.  "  One  question  —  was  this 
soldier  a  young  man  ?  " 

"  He  was,"  answered  Hinton  and  then  took  his  leave. 
The  letter  was  anonymous  and  poorly  written.  The 
substance  of  it  was  that  the  wi'iter  was  in  danger  and 
oppressed  by  his  conscience ;  that  he  had  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Golden  Circle  of  whom  some  believed  he  had 
betrayed  their  secrets,  which  he  had  not  done,  at  least 
not  intentionally,  for  he  had  only  one  night  spoken  to  a 
stranger  who  had  the  words  of  recognition  and  the  grip, 
and  it  seeiiied  they  had  been  overheard  by  somebody 
while  talking  together ;  that  he  knew  he  would  never 
get  back  from  the  army  alive,  for  Katrina  Galsch  had 
told  him  so ;  and  that  his  brother,  who  was  also  a 
Knight,  had  informed  him  that  at  a  meeting  held  near 
their  home  a  week  ago,  it  had  been  resolved  to  push  the 
extension  and  influence  of  the  Circle  durmg  the  winter, 
and  to  make  themselves  felt  especially  with  Frederick 
Euthvon,  Doctor  Heifer,  Tom  Hartnagel  and  the  witch's 
boy,  and  in  this  way  to  some  extent  avenge  the  death  of 


506  ENEMIES  nsr  the  rear; 

their  comrades  and  fellow-members.  Th.e  "writer  re- 
quested that  no  inquiry  be  made  in  regard  to  him 
and  wished  to  be  remembered  as  a  soldier  who  would 
try  to  do  his  duty  to  his  country  to  the  end. 

Captain  Ruthvon  read  this  letter  carefully  several 
times  with  painful  interest.  It  was  quite  evident,  if  the 
author  was  sincere,  that  the  Golden  Circle  would  make 
renewed  efforts  to  embarrass  the  government  in  this 
section,  and  to  harass  all  in  the  community  who  were 
true  to  it.  He  foresaw  clearly  that  sooner  or  later  the 
Circle  and  the  government  would  come  into  conflict. 
In  such  an  event  their  could  be  but  one  issue,  and  many 
of  his  old  neighbors  and  friends  might  meet  with 
imprisonment,  fine  and  even  confiscation  of  property. 
If  the  Circle  could  be  broken  up  before  matters  came  to 
this  pass,  for  instance  by  the  arrest  of  the  leader,  a 
desirable  end  would  be  attained.  He  himself  was  gain- 
ing strength  rapidly  and  by  the  time  his  leave  of 
absence  expired  he  would  be  able  to  perform  light 
service,  and  it  had  been  intimated  to  him  that  he  would 
be  transferred  to  Reading  to  watch  the  movements  of 
the  Knights  in  view  of  his  intimate  acquaintance  with 
the  people  and  the  country.  If  this  were  done,  his 
duties  would  be  of  the  most  delicate  nature  and  might 
cause  fresh  misunderstanding  between  him  and  his 
father.  Should  he  resign  his  commission  ?  He  sat  for 
some  time  in  deep  thought.  He  resolved  to  clear  away 
at  once  everything  that  could  create  new  difficulty. 
Accordingly  after  dinner  was  over  he  had  an  interview 


OR,     A   GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  507 

with  his  father.  First  of  all  he  read  the  letter  which 
Hinton  had  brought  him. 

"  I'm  not  surprised,"  said  Ruthvon,  senior,  when  it 
was  fuiished.  "  I  know  they'll  go  on  mitil  they  get 
where  it  won't  rain  on  them  for  awhile." 

"  That  is  what  I  wanted  to  speak  to  you  about,"  said 
Charles.  He  then  went  on  to  tell  of  his  probable 
transfer  to  Reading  and  of  his  duties  in  that  case. 

"  So  had  I  not  better  resign  my  commission  ?  "  he 
concluded.  Mr.  Ruthvon  stared  at  his  son  but  said 
nothing. 

"  You  see,  father,"  said  Charles  noticing  his  father's 
look,  "  you  and  I  —  you  did  not  always  approve  of  what 
I  did  and  said,  —  and,  you  know  —  and  —  after  what 
has  happened  nothing  must  come  between  us  again." 

"  Nothing  must,  Charlie,"  said  the  father  with  moist 
eyes. 

"I  know  something  of  what  you  have  suffered,"  con- 
tinued the  son,  "  and  I  have  not  forgotten  the  night 
when  you  brought  Blanche  to  me  and  put  her  hand 
in  mine.  I  am  now  ready  to  do  something  to  please 
you  — anything  short  of  a  plain  violation  of  duty." 

"  What  do  you  think  I  would  wish  you  to  do  ? " 
Frederick  Ruthvon  asked  after  several  moments  of 
silence. 

"  I  can  resign  my  commission  with  honor  now," 
answered  Charles,  "  and,  as  I  intimated,  I  will  do  it  if 
you  wish  me  to." 

"  And  then  I  suppose  these  Knights  would  be  much 


508  ENEIVHES   EST  THE   EEA"R  ; 

pleased  as  well  as  myself,  and  would  brag  that  they  had 
scared  you  out  of  the  army,"  said  Mr.  Ruthvon  watch- 
ing Charles  closely.  The  latter  certainly  winced  a 
little. 

"I  thmk  they  would,"  said  he,  "but  I  can  stand  it 
maybe." 

"  Charlie,"  said  Mr.  Ruthvon  visibly  affected,  "  our 
dear  Lord  God  has  given  you  back  to  us  as  from  the 
dead.  There  is  nothmg  between  us  and  nothing  ever 
shall  be,  and  I  don't  want  you  to  resign  from  the  army 
either,  or  to  go  away  from  Reading  if  you  can  stay 
there.  Charlie,"  he  continued  after  a  pause  of  more 
than  a  minute  during  which  he  seemed  to  be  engaged  in 
a  mental  struggle,  "I  —  I  will  say  that  I  was  wrong  in 
some  things.  My  prejudice  against  Blanche  Chetwynde 
was  foolish.  Her  sweet  manner  and  brave  heart  showed 
me  that.  And  I  was  wrong  too  in  some  things  about 
the  Yankee  and  the  war.  —  Say,  Charlie,  did  you  see 
anything  of  the  Reading  Eagle  of  last  Tuesday  ?  " 

"No,"  said  the  captain  lookuig  at  his  father  wonder- 
ingly.  "  I  heard  mother  say  she  couldn't  find  it  any- 
where." 

"  Here  she  comes,"  said  Mr.  Ruthvon. — "  Maria,  have 
you  seen  last  Aveek's  Eagle  anywhere  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Mrs.  Ruthvon.  "  I  wanted  to  see  about 
that  accident  to  Sam  Gelsinger  down  on  the  Cacoosing 
but  Catharine  couldn't  find  it  and  I  couldn't  either." 

"  And  I  think  you  won't  for  some  time  in  this  house," 
said  the  other  with  an  energy  that  almost  startled  his 


OR,    A    GOLDEX    CIECLE    SQUARED.  509 

wife.  "  I've  ordered  them  to  send  my  copy  —  well,  it's 
stopped  from  coming  liere  and  it  never  will  come  again, 
I  tliink." 

Mrs.  Rutlivon  and  Charles  listened  in  astonishment. 

"  I'm  diso-usted  with  the  character  of  the  leaders  of 
the  Knights  around  here  and  their  acts  have  opened  my 
eyes.  What  does  Philip  Huber  care  about  the  country  ? 
Nothing  at  all.  He  wants  the  money,  that's  Avhat  he's 
after.  We  must  have  a  government,  and  it's  folly  to 
say  the  Southerners  won't  take  our  property  if  they  get 
the  chance. — ]Maria,  I  am  not  an  Abolitionist  and  I  never 
need  be,  for  that  thing  will  now  settle  itself.  I  believe 
too  that  Lincoln  has  done  wrong  often.  Charlie,  I  am  a 
Democrat  as  my  fathers  were  before  me,  but  I  believe 
.our  only  salvation  is  in  making  the  South  give  up,  and 
from  this  time  on  I  am  A  WAR  de:mocrat." 

They  looked  at  him  in  silent  amazement.  He  got  up 
and  went  on  with  a  degree  of  excitement  very  unusual 
for  him  :  ^ — "No,  Charlie,  I  don't  want  you  to  resign 
your  commission.  Do  your  duty  just  as  your  great-great- 
grandfather Johannes  Rutlivon  would  have  done  it,  and 
if  it  demands  of  you  the  arrest  of  Huber  himself  and  the 
whole  Copton  lodge  of  Knights  along  with  him,  do  it 
and  your  father  will  stand  by  you,  by  Schinnerhannes  I  " 

When  Charles  and  his  parents  went  into  the  kitchen 
they  found  Tom  Hartnagel  there  He  was  telling  Cath- 
arine and  Sallie  a  funny  story  of  his  war  experience. 
He  smoked  his  pipe  and  was  in  great  good  humor. 
Presently    Clinton   Chet^vynde  and  Susie  Zweispringer 


510  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR; 

came.  It  was  a  common  thing  for  them  to  be  seen  at 
Frederick  Ruthvon's  house  these  days  and  to  come  and 
go  together.  If  ever  a  girl  was  in  love  and  proud  of  her 
lover,  it  was  Susie  surely. 

"  This  won't  do,  Tom,"  said  Charles  when  they  all 
had  laughed  heartily  at  a  joke  that  Hartnagel  had 
cracked.  "  This  is  Sunday  and  there's  too  much  noise. 
You  need  to  be  talked  to  and  I  order  you  to  come  with 
me."  Tom  took  the  hint  and  promptly  followed  Charles 
from  the  apartment. 

"  That's  my  old  friend  Hi  Wambsgans  sure,"  ex- 
claimed he  after  Charles  had  read  Hinton's  letter  to  him 
— "the  fellow  I  fooled  in  the  lower  tavern  sheds." 

"Do  you  think  he  is  honest  in  wi'iting  the  way  he  does  ?" 

"  He  couldn't  be  dishonest  if  he  tried." 

"  Then  we'll  keep  his  secret,  but  make  good  use  of 
what  he  says,  Tom." 

"  Lean  on  that,  captain,  and  if  my  name  is  Tom  Hart- 
nagel, these  Knights'll  bounce  around  lively  before  long." 

"  Keep  cool,  Tom,  and  don't  do  anything  without 
consulting  me.  Just  yet  we  can  do  little  but  watch  and 
be  on  our  guard.  As  I  told  you  last  week,  I'm  sure 
Congress  will  soon  do  something  that  will  make  it  easier 
to  deal  with  them." 

"  Easy  or  not,"  exclaimed  Tom  with  sudden  vigor, 
"  if  any  of  them  hurts  Sharp  Billy,  there'll  be  some 
bones  for  Doctor  Heifer  to  set  without  any  law  of  Con- 
gress, I'll  bet  you  now." 

"All  right,  Tom,"  replied  the  captain  smiling;  "you 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  511 

may  avenge  Billy  without  consulting  me,  but  lie  is  a  boy 
that  can  help  himself  pretty  well — and  others  too,  I  find." 
A  happy  family  were  the  Ruthvons  that  night.  The 
old  affection  had  resumed  its  throne.  Mrs.  Ruthvon  was 
filled  with  joy  and  her  fervent  thanksgiving  ascended  to 
heaven.     In  sweet  communion  the  evenmg  was  spent. 

These  same  hours  witnessed  another  and  very  different 
scene.  It  was  at  the  fortune-teller's  house  on  the 
mountain.  In  the  large  room  sat  the  sibyl  with  Gewit- 
ter  in  her  lap.  Opposite  her  stood  a  visitor.  It  was 
Hans  Prantman.  He  had  been  deeply  impressed  with 
the  fact  that  his  foster-son  had  named  him  in  the 
Todeskammer.  True,  he  had  encouraged  Christopher 
Stettler's  idea  that  Fetzer  had  said  "  Lincoln  "  instead 
of  "Prantman,"  yet  he  was  ill  at  ease  and  in  his  mirest 
he  became  more  embittered  than  ever  against  the  Union 
cause  and  its  friends  in  the  neighborhood.  He  had 
attended  the  meeting  of  the  Circle  referred  to  in  the 
letter  and  was  largely  instrvimental  in  securing  the  pas- 
sage of  the  resolution  of  hostility  to  certain  individuals. 
He  seemed  to  hold  a  particular  grudge  against  Sharp 
Billy.  On  this  account  he  had  been  anxious  for  some 
time  to  see  the  fortune-teller  but  until  to-night  no  suit- 
able opportunity  had  presented  itself. 

"  Take  room,"  said  Katrina.  "  I  haven't  seen  you  for 
a  long  time  ;  how  does  it  go  with  you  ?  " 

"  It  must  be  good  so,  but  it  might  be  better,"  he 
repKed  sullenly  remaining  standing  by  the  fire. 


512  ENEMIES    IN   THE   EEAR  ; 

"  How  is  that  ? "  she  asked  looking  at  him  with  a 
curious  twinkle  in  her  dark  eyes. 

"  How  is  that,  huh,  you  witch  ?  "  he  growled  irrit- 
ably. 

"  Yes.     What  do  you  want  ?  " 

"•  What  do  I  want,  you  evil  s]3irit?" 

"  To  be  sure.  What  do  you  want,  Hans  ?  You 
seem  very  much  out  of  humor  this  Sunday  night.  I 
think  you  didn't  go  to  church  this  morning  like  your 
good  neighbor,  Frederick  Ruthvon,"  said  she  tauntingly. 

"  Ruthvon  I  "  exploded  Prantman, —  "  Say  !  Galsch,  is 
that  there  young  satan  around  ?  " 

"  It's  always  full  of  them  here.  Which  particular 
one  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  Bill  and  you  know  it.  When  I  came  to  the 
mountain  I'm  sure  I  saw  him  just  ahead  of  me  in  the 
road." 

"  He  isn't  here.  He  went  from  church  on  an  errand 
to  Frisbie,  and  the  poor  boy  may  be  frozen  in  the 
snow." 

"  Anyhow  he's  one  of  them  I  Avant  to  speak  to  you 
about.  You've  heard  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Circle  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  have,"  she  replied  significantly. 

"  They  can  make  themselves  felt." 

"  So  I  have  heard." 

"  There  is  several  persons  that  had  better  mind  when 
they  receive  warning  from  them,"  said  Prantman  sitting 
down  on  a  stool  and  speaking  in  a  lower  tone.     "  Fred 


OK,    A   GOLDEls^   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  513 

Ruthvon  is  a  traitor  and  his  son  and  Tom  Hartnagel  is 
spies.  Doctor  Heifer  talks  too  big  and  Katrina  Galscli 
and  her  young  satan  is  too  friendly  with  the  nigger-wor- 
shipers." 

"  So  ?  "  said  the  sibyl  unmoved. 

"  Galsch,  you  old  witch,"  exclaimed  Prantman  pro- 
voked by  her  soolness,  "  that  Rutznasz  must  go.  You 
must  send  him  away.  He  sticks  out  his  tongue  at  me 
like  a  snake  every  time  he  sees  me  and  makes  other  bad 
motions,  and  he's  all  the  time  with  Hartnagel  or  running 
errands  for  Lincoln  Ruthvon  and  spying  around.  You 
must  send  him  off." 

"  And  I  tell  you,  Hans  Prantman,  I  will  not  send  him 
away,"  replied  the  fortune-teller,  a  fierce  light  suddenly 
coming  into  her  eyes. 

"  Somebody  else  Avill  then,"  said  the  other  angrily. 

"  And  I  tell  you  once  more,"  she  said  rising  and 
stretching  herself  to  her  full  height,  "  somebody  else  had 
better  not.  If  it's  you  that  tries,  I  will  tell  what  you 
wouldn't  have  me  tell  for  all  you've  got  in  the  world,  and 
if  it's  some  one  else  that  hurts  the  boy,  I'll  find  means  — 
and  you  know,  Prantman,  I  can  find  them  —  to  make  him 
wish  he  had  been  strangled  at  his  birth.  The  other 
men  you  threaten  can  take  care  of  themselves,  but  so 
help  me  all  the  evil  spirits,  if  any  of  your  Knights  hurt 
my  boy,  they  will  be  followed  by  shapes  and  plagues 
they  can't  get  rid  of.  More  yet :  I  can  and  I  will  expose 
the  secrets  of  your  lodge  and  bring  the  Lincoln  govern- 
ment down  on  you." 


514  ENEMIES   DSr   THE   BEAR; 

Her  visitor  cowered  under  her  wrath.  She  knew  her 
man  and  pushed  her  advantage. 

"  Do  you  come  here,  Hans  Prantman,  to  threaten  me 
and  my  boy?"  she  continued,  looking  like  an  evil  spirit 
aroused, —  "me,  who  saw  you  strike  down  Felix  Fetzer 
that  evening  in  June  at  the  Cross-rock,  and  afterwards 
helped  you  hide  the  body  ?  " 

"You  know,  Galsch,"  rising  from  his  seat  and  speak- 
ing almost  pleadingly,  "  it  was  done  in  anger,  when  he 
accused  me  of  having  spoken  improperly  to  his  wife." 

"  But  people  didn't  hesitate  to  say  that  the  one  who 
killed  him  got  the  seven  hundred  dollars  he  had  in  his 
pocket  at  the  time,  and  whisper  even  now  that  Hans 
Prantman  was  the  man,  and  Katrina  Galsch  knows  he  was." 

"  And  I  gave  you  five  hmidred  of  it  to  keep  you  from 
telling  what  you  saw  by  a  cursed  accident,"  said  he. 

"  And  I'll  stick  to  my  bloody  bargam,  unless  you  do 
another  murder,"  she  retorted.  "  In  that  case  I'm  free 
from  it." 

"  For  God's  sake  don't  speak  so  loud,"  said  Prantman 
in  a  hoarse  whisper.  "  If  we're  found  out,  we'll  all  both 
hang." 

"  I  know  it,  but  what  need  I  care.  I'm  alone  in  the 
world. —  And  yet  I  do  care,"  she  said  checking  herseK 
and  speaking  more  calmly.  "  I  shall  indeed  leave  no 
name  behind  but  Billy  has  been  as  a  child  to  me,  and 
for  his  sake  I  will  care.  "When  I  shall  be  helpless  and 
friendless  —  for  as  soon  as  I  am  no  longer  feared  all  will 
forsake  and  hate  me  —  he  will  take  care  of  m^  and  at  the 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  515 

end  lay  my  body  in  the  grave,"  and  for  the  first  time  in 
many  yeai's  the  eyes  of  the  fortune-teller  were  filled  with 
sincere  tears.  Quickly  rallying,  she  said  with  vehem- 
ence :  —  "  Do  you  wonder  that  I  stand  up  for  the  boy  ? 
Let  any  one  touch  him  and  he  shall  feel  all  the  terrors  I 
can  command.  Hans  Prantman,  beware,  lest  a  gallows 
should*  suddenly  stand  before  you  !  " 

"  Galsch,  I  wish  there  was  no  law  for  you  !  "  he  ex- 
claimed shaking  his  fist  into  her  face. 

"  Prantman,  don't  you  dare  touch  either  me  or  Billy," 
she  replied  defiantly.  "  I  can  even  now  do  that  which 
would  lift  you  up  to  the  roof.  Remember  the  Indian. 
Over  his  spirit  I  have  control." 

"  Ruhig  !  "  said  he  shivering.  "  I  haven't  heard  him 
since  that  —  that  night  when  —  Say  !  is  it  true  that  he's 
been  heard  lately  !  " 

"Ask  your  son  about  that,"  she  answered  smiling 
grimly. 

"Do  you  think  there's  any  danger  to-night?"  he 
asked,  going  to  the  little  window  and  peering  into  the 
wintry  night. 

"  There  is,  unless  you  promise  to  let  the  boy  alone 
and  keep  your  lodge  from  hurting  him,  Sj)eak  quick !  " 
She  proceeded  to  get  a  large  conch  from  the  old  cup- 
board against  the  opposite  wall. 

"  This  the  Indian  used  in  his  day  to  gather  his  tribe 
on  these  mountains  to  go  down  into  the  valley  on  his 
forays,  and  he  loves  the  sound  of  it  still,"  she  said  hold- 
ing up  the  old  shell  and  going  toward  the  door. 


616  BNElVirES   IN   THE    EEAE  ; 

"  Don't  blow  it,"  cried  Prantman  excitedly.  "  I  tell 
you  tlie  young  satan  can  go  in  the  bushes  so  far  as 
we  are  concerned.  No  one  will  harm  him  or  you,  I 
think." 

"  It  must  be  good  so,"  said  the  sibyl  in  a  calmer 
tone  ;  "  but  remember  your  promise.  Now  you'd  better 
go  home.  But  wait  yet  a  moment."  Opening  the  door 
quickly,  she  put  the  conch  to  her  lips  and  blew  a  strong 
blast  —  just  one  note.  The  moon  had  risen  over  the 
mountain  and  the  tall  pines  thrcAV  ghostly  shadows  over 
the  pure  snow. 

"  Nothing  will  hurt  you  now,"  she  observed  with  a 
look  akin  to  contemjJt  when  she  saw  the  frightened 
manner  of  her  departing  visitor,  "  but  still  you  had 
better  not  go  by  the  Cross-rock  to-night." 

While  she  yet  spoke  a  human  form  came  indistinctly 
into  view  in  the  moonlight  out  in  the  road  and  a  boyish 
voice  sung:  — 

"  Pennsylvanians  to  your  station, 
Boldly  meet  the  traitor  foe  ; 
Figtit  as  bravely  for  the  Nation 
As  you  did  in  Mexico. 

So  let  the  wide  world  wag  as  it  will, 
We  are  for  the  Union  6t ill, 
For  the  Union,  for  the  Union, 
We  are  for  the  Union  stilll " 

Sharp  Billy  stood  before  the  door  by  the  time  the  eaid  of 
the  refrain  was  reached. 

"  Church  was  late  getting  out  this  morning  and  that's 


i 


OK,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  517 

one  of  the  pieces  they  sung,"  he  said  to  Hans  Prantman 
who  had  come  out  of  the  house.  "  Tom  Hartnagel  and 
Captain  Ruthvon  can  sing  it  much  nicer  than  me,  and  if 
you  or  Parre  Heimer  will  ask  them,  they'll  sing  it  most 
any  day  for  you,"  and  making  a  bow  with  mock  civility, 
he  disappeared  within  the  door.  Prantman  ground  his 
teeth  and  walked  away  without  even  saying  good  night 
to  Katrina  Galsch. 

"•  Billy,  that  one  won't  trouble  us  again  for  a  long 
time,"  said  the  latter  when  both  were  safe  in  the 
house. 

"It  would  have  been  longer  maybe  though  if  he  had 
heard  the  Indian,"  answered  Billy  looking  inquiringly  at 
his  foster-mother. 

Katrina  laughed  at  the  picture  he  evoked  but  presently 
said  in  a  grave  manner  :  —  "  That  one  promised  that  you 
should  be  let  alone,  and  so  the  Indian  was  satisfied. 
Warm  up,  my  Billy,  you  are  cold.  Here's  some  hot 
coffee  for  you.  You'll  warm  and  keep  your  mam  when 
she  gets  too  old  to  help  herself,  won't  you,  Billy  ?  " 

An  affectionate  embrace  and  a  kiss  were  Billy's 
answer,  and  in  a  few  minutes  all  was  still  in  the  lonely 
habitation  of  the  fortune-teller. 


CHAPTER  XLIIL 

A   REVIVAL    OF    GOLDEN    CIECLEISM. 

Doctor  Heifer  was  in  a  troubled  state  of  mind. 
Alarming  rumors  had  come  regarding  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  before  Fredericksburg,  and  these  rumors  were 
now  verified.  Twelve  thousand  Union  soldiers  had  been 
killed  and  wounded  in  that  unfortunate  engagement. 

It  was  a  cold  winter  evening  a  little  beyond  the  mid- 
dle of  December,  and  the  doctor  went  over  to  talk  with 
Sqviire  Zweispringer  and  thus  relieve  his  mind,  but  not 
finding  the  squire  at  home  he  conversed  with  Susie  a 
little  while  and  then  sauntered  on  to  "  The  People's 
Hotel."  There  was  a  larger  gathering  than  common  in 
the  bar-room,  and  the  late  battle  and  the  chances  of  the 
drafted  militia  of  Berks  county  coming  into  active  con- 
flict with  the  Southern  soldiers,  were  under  discussion. 

"  Here  comes  the  prophet,"  said  Mike  Hahn  sarcasti- 
cally when  Doctor  Heifer  came  in.  "  No  doubt  he  can 
answer  the  question." 

"  What's  the  question,  Hahn  ?  "  inquired  Heifer  lean- 
ing on  the  bar." 

"  You  know  our  drafted  neighbors  went  up  the  rail- 
road just  a  week  ago  to-night,"  replied  Hahn.  "  Will 
they  be  taken  to  Fredericksburg  into  this  battle  ?  " 

"  No,  it's  over,  and  as  I  understand,  they  were  sent 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIUCLE   SQUARED.  519 

from  Washington  to  Suffolk  and  that's  far  enough  from 
Fredericksburg." 

"  But  5'ou  don't  always  know,"  said  Hahn.  "  You 
said  the  South  would  be  thrashed  in  three  months.  It's 
twenty  since  they  took  Fort  Sumter  and  now  they've 
just  about  killed  and  captured  the  whole  Abolition 
army." 

"•  Yes,  and  whose  fault  was  it  but  Abe  Lincoln's  that 
all  them  men  was  killed  in  cold  blood?"  said  Pete 
Prantman,  who  sat  with  his  chair  tipped  against  the 
wall,  his  left  foot  on  the  lower  rung  of  the  chair  and  his 
right  leg  crossed  over  the  left.  *'  Six  weeks  ago  he  put 
out  the  only  man  in  the  North  who  could  handle  a  big 
army  —  at  least  Parre  Heimer  said  so,  and  Ancoony 
says  so  and  he's  in  Congress  and  ought  to  know  I 
think, —  and  now  he's  got  it ;  his  little  Burnside  all 
knocked  to  pieces,  huh  ?  " 

"  I  don't  want  to  talk  to  a  man  who  glories  in  the 
slaughter  of  twelve  thousand  brave  men,  the  soldiers  of 
his  country,"  said  Heifer  angrily.  "And,  Prantman," 
—  advancing  to  the  latter  and  shaking  his  finger  at 
him  —  "a  fellow  who  cut  off  his  finger  to  escape  the 
draft  ought  to  sing  low." 

"But  isn't  it  true  what  Pete  says?"  asked  Hahn,  to 
Pete's  great  relief. 

"  Suppose  it  were,  Hahn,"  answered  HeKer,  "  will  it 
help  things  to  rejoice  in  the  result.  It'll  only  take  so 
many  more  men  and  dollars  to  fight  it  out.  The  North 
will  never  give  up.     It'll  rise  in  its  might  now  and  crush 


520  ENEMIES    EST   THE   EEAR  ; 

out  all  opposition  whether  it  comes  from  the  South  or 
enemies  here  in  the  North." 

"  Now  the  prophet  speaks  again,"  said  Halm.  "  I 
pity  these  men,  but,  I'll  be  plagued  if  I  don't  believe  it's 
better  so,  else  as  soon  as  the  di-afted  men  is  killed 
there'll  be  another  draft  and  Ave'll  all  be  killed,  and  may 
be  this  defeat  will  bring  old  Abe  to  his  senses  and  stop 
the  war." 

Mike  Hahn  undoubtedly  voiced  the  sentiment  of  a 
large  majority  of  the  people  of  C'opton  and  the  adjoin- 
ing toT\-nships  at  this  critical  period  of  the  war.  The  re- 
moval of  McClellan  from  command  had  greatly  increased 
the  discontent  excited  by  the  draft  and  this  uneasi- 
ness was  intensified  when  on  the  night  of  December  11th 
the  drafted  men  from  Berks  county  passed  through 
Haltfest  on  their  way  to  Washmgton.  To  all  this  was 
now  added  the  news  of  the  awful  slaughter  before  Fred- 
ericksburg  —  a  result,  it  was  alleged,  of  McClellan's 
removal.  When,  then,  the  dark  year  of  the  war  closed 
with  the  Union  cause  in  a  seemingly  hopeless  condition 
the  old  cry  of  the  previous  summer  and  autumn  was 
raised  with  renewed  vigor  —  that  something  must  be 
done  to  stop  the  war  and  that  the  best  way  to  accom- 
plish this  was  to  compel  the  government  to  let  the 
South  go. 

And  the  very  first  day  of  the  new  year  brought  a 
fresh  grievance.  The  Emancipation  Proclamation  took 
effect.  If  the  Union  arms  were  successful,  in  a  short 
time  the  entire  North  and  especially  south-eastern  Penn- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  521 

sylvania,  would  be  overrun  by  the  emancipated  slaves 
and  a  reign  of  terror  inaugurated.  People  would  have 
to  defend  their  homes  much  in  the  same  way  the  fore- 
fathers had  done  in  the  days  of  the  Indians. 

"  Why  I  never  saw  so  many  niggers  in  all  my  life  as 
I  did  see  in  Reading  on  Second  New  Year,"*  said  Mike 
Hahn  at  Baltzer's  about  this  time. 

"They're  coming,"  chimed  in  Jared  Katzbauer.  "I 
saw  one  go  down  the  turnpike  yesterday  —  an  awful 
looking  fellow." 

"  That  was  the  Yankee's  nigger,  you  pumpkm-head 
you,"  said  Christopher  Stettler. 

"  Don't  you  think  I  laiow  the  Yankee's  nigger  ? " 
said  Katzbauer  stubbornly.  "  T  tell  you  they're  coming. 
Dan  there  will  have  to  stand  behind  his  bar  with  a  pis- 
tol in  his  hand  when  black  Abe's  pets  come  else  his 
dram  will  go  in  a  hurry,  by  my  sex." 

"I think  they  get  not  much  here  now  once,"  growled 
Baltzer. 

"  And  I'm  afraid  a  decent  white  man  won't  be  able 
to  get  even  a  single  sehmaler  any  more  at  all,"  said  Ad 
Sparger  looking  wistfully  at  the  bottles  and  tumblers. 

It  would  be  a  misfortune,  then,  if  the  Union  forces 
won,  these  people  said.  Much  better  in  the  end  that 
Burnside  was  defeated.  A  little  encouragement  of  the 
South,  a  show  of  strength  on  the  part  of  the  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Circle  all  over  the  country,  and  the  govern- 
ment Avould  give  it  up  and  glad  peace  would  return  once 

*January  2iid, 


522  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAK  ; 

more.  The  fear  of  a  negro  invasion  would  be  dispelled 
and  the  drafted  fathers,  husbands  and  sons  would  all 
come  back  in  the  spring.  The  times  seemed  propitious 
too  in  these  parts.  Andrew  Pfannkuchen  had  been  tri- 
umphantly acquitted,  and  Sergeant  Thompson  and  the 
private  who  shot  Fetzer  had  barely  escaped  conviction 
on  the  charge  of  manslaughter,  five  jurors  standing  out 
a  whole  day  for  a  verdict  of  guilty.  The  govern- 
ment was  very  quiet  also.  No  soldiers  had  been  seen 
outside  of  Reading  for  some  time. 

Thus  encouraged  the  Knights  forgot  the  lessons  of 
Zellon's  and  Fetzer's  death  and  grew  bold  again.  Philip 
Huber  was  very  busy  in  the  early  months  of  1863. 
New  lodges  were  organized  in  the  tovniships  of  Rattleton 
and  Knocksdehudel  and  also  in  some  of  the  adjoining 
townships  of  Lancaster  county.  Members  b>y  the  hun- 
dred were  sworn  in.  In  due  time  Captain  Ruthvon  and 
Clinton  Chetwynde  received  anonymous  communications 
warning  them  to  i-eturu  at  once  to  the  army.  Both 
missives  were  signed,  in  a  disguised  hand,  "•  Tliose  tvlio 
can  make  good  their  words.'"  At  the  expiration  of  their 
furloughs  the  tAvo  young  men  had  been  assigned  for  duty 
at  Reading  and  were  able  to  be  at  home  part  of  the 
time.  Their  presence  in  the  neighborhood  was  very 
undesirable  to  the  Knights. 

Doctor  Heifer  was  notified  in  the  same  mysterious 
way  that  if  he  did  not  cease  his  loud  talk  in  defense  of 
emancipation  another  doctor  would  be  found  and  he 
would  have  only  the  niggers  to  doctor  when  they  came, 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  523 

and  tliat  it  would  likewise  be  profitable  for  him  to  get 
rid  of  Davy  Rauhzalin  as  soon  as  possible.  The  latter 
was  with  the  witch's  boy  too  much. 

"  Ho  !  Herrschaft !  Gideon  !  Benjamin  !  Donnerwet- 
ter !,"  exclaimed  Heifer,  boldly  showing  the  note  at 
Baltzer's.  "  Let  them  get  the  new  doctor  as  quick  as 
they  like,  and  as  for  Davy,  all  the  Knights  will  be  hung 
up  before  I  send  him  away." 

Frederick  Ruthvon  too  was  warned.  He  was  accused 
anew  of  being  a  traitor  to  the  Knights  and  informed  that 
m  the  good  time  close  at  hand  his  treachery  would  be  pun- 
ished as  it  deserved.  It  would  begin  on  the  third 
Friday  of  March  next  when  another  man  than  a  traitor 
to  his  party  and  his  neighbors  would  be  elected  school- 
director  in  his  place.  Squire  Zweispringer  Avas  told 
that  if  he  wished  to  retam  the  honorable  office  he  had 
so  long  held,  he  had  better  not  talk  quite  so  much  in 
approval  of  War  Democrats.  He  was  invited  to  join  a 
certain  association  of  patriotic  men  of  which  he  knew 
something.  Jabez  Chetwjmde  was  apprised  that  the 
climate  of  New  England  would  agree  better  "with  him 
than  that  of  Berks  county,  not  being  as  hot  as  the  lat- 
ter. John  Hmton  was  asked  to  show  his  colors  by 
seeking  admission  to  a  beautiful  Circle  ;  and  many  other 
citizens  were  addressed  in  the  way  of  warning  and 
admonition. 

Hans  Prantman  had  either  forgotten  his  promise 
or  was  unable  to  control  the  action  of  his  fellows,  for 
Katrina  Galsch  was  again  requested  to  send  away  Sharp 


524  ENEJMIES   IN   THE   EEAR  ; 

Billy.  If  she  refused  to  comply,  she  would  some  dark 
night  he  whipped  out  of  the  township  and  Billy  would 
never  be  heard  of  again. 

Of  course  everybody  knew  that  all  these  communica- 
tions emanated  from  the  Golden  Circle,  but  as  yet  it 
was  difficult  to  proceed  against  its  members  even  after 
considerable  evidence  was  gathered.  Tom  Hartnagel, 
whom  the  Circle  had  by  no  means  overlooked  in  making 
up  its  list  of  obnoxious  persons,  was  in  favor  of  making 
short  work  with  the  Knights. 

"  Captain,"  said  he  to  Charles  Ruthvon  one  day, 
"  you  lead  twenty-five  good  men  like  Clint  and  me  and 
we'll  break  up  every  lodge  of  these  cowardly  Knights  in 
the  county  in  ten  days." 

'•  We  can't  do  that,"  responded  the  captam ;  "  the 
law  would  be  against  us  and  we  would  do  more  harm 
than  good ;  but  if  they  mjure  person  or  property,  we 
can  bring  them  under  the  operation  of  the  civil  law  as 
mdividuals,   and " 

"  Have  them  acquitted  by  a  jury  of  Knights,  clean 
down  honest,"  Tom  indignantly  broke  in.  "  Do  your 
dirty  best,  captain,  and  you'll  never  in  that  way  get  a 
single  one   of  the   rascals  where  it  won't  rain  on  him  !  " 

"  Hold  on,  Tom,"  said  the  captain  smiling  at  his 
friend's  headlong  zeal.  "  Remember,  we'll  soon  have  a 
law  of  Congress,  as  I've  told  you  several  times,  under 
which  we  shall  be  able  to  reach  and  punish  this  class  of 
traitors  in  spite  of  Heister  Clymer  and  his  habeas 
corpus.^^ 


OE,     A   GOLDEiT  CIRCLE   SQUARED.  525 

Captain  Riithvon  was  right.  A  bill  was  introduced  in 
the  House  during  the  3rd  session  of  the  37th  Congress 
entitled  "  An  act  for  enrolling  and  calling  out  the 
National  Forces,  and  for  other  purposes."  As  might 
have  been  expected  from  a  legislator  who  subsequently 
Toted  against  the  passage  of  the  XlVth  amendment  to 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  abolishing  slavery, 
Suydenham  E.  Ancona,  who  then  represented  the  Berks 
county  district,  bitterly  opposed  the  enactment  of  the 
Conscript  Act.  He  delivered  a  speech  against  it  on  the 
pages  of  the  Congressional  Record,  February  28th,  1863, 
of  which  Jabez  Chet"wynde  remarked  to  Doctor  Heifer 
that  "if  it  does  not  teach  partriotism  it  is  nevertheless 
one  of  the  finest  specimens  in  existence  of  inflated 
rhetoric  and  flatulent  buncombe." 

In  this  speech  Ancona  spoke  of  "  the  blood-hounds  of 
the  partisan  press  and  pulpit  of  New  York  and  New 
England  "  as  being  in  part  to  blame  for  the  reverses  of 
the  Union  arms.  He  declared  that  the  government  had 
"  perverted  the  war  now  to  an  utterly  impracticable  and 
hopeless  purpose  —  the  emancipation  of  the  inferior  race, 
the  negro,  destined  by  nature  and  its  irreversible  laws 
to  be  subservient  to  its  superior,  the  white."  He  char- 
acterized the  war  power  as  "  the  bloody  goddess  of  despo- 
tism, at  whose  shrine  you  see  kneeling  the  horde  of 
greedy  contractors,  with  all  the  paraphernalia  and  cir- 
cumstances of  reality."  He  described  the  national 
administration  as  "  faithless,  corrupt,  and  imbecile." 
He  alleged  that  infamous  impositions  had  been  practiced 


526  ENEMIES   EST   THE   EEAE  ; 

upon  liis  constituents  by  the  officials  conducting  the 
draft  of  1862,  and  expressed  it  as  liis  belief  that  any 
attempt  to  carry  out  the  conscription  contemplated  by 
the  pending  bill  would  be  almost  certainly  followed  by  a 
revolution  that  would  bring  desolation  and  blood  to  the 
doors  of  the  people  of  the  North.  He  inveighed  against 
those  provisions  of  the  bill  under  which  he  declared 
farmers,  mechanics  and  poor  laboring  men  would  be 
"dragged  from  their  homes  and  helpless  families  by 
military  satraps,  for  an  indefinite  service  in  a  cause  and 
for  a  purpose  they  believed  utterly  wrong,  useless  and 
impracticable."  Moreover,  he  demanded  as  a  condition 
of  his  further  support  of  the  administration  with  the 
means  to  prosecute  the  war,  among  many  other  things 
that  "the  emancipation  policy  announced  in  the  bulls  of 
September  22nd  and  January  1st "  should  be  "  revoked 
and  annulled,"  that  certain  generals  be  "peremptorily 
dismissed  from  the  service  they  disgraced,"  and  that 
General  McClellan  be  "restored  to  supreme  and  untram- 
meled  command  of  the  entire  army  of  the  United 
States." 

The  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  from  Missouri  to 
Pennsylvania  were  greatly  encouraged  by  this  speech  of 
the  Representative  of  the  Berks  district  in  the  highest 
law-making  body  of  the  Nation.  It  was  read  amid  great 
applause  in  the  Copton  lodge  over  Baltzer's  bar-room. 

"  Hurrah  for  Ancoony !  "exclaimed  Hans  Prantman. 
"  He  knows  much,  the  Ancoony  does  —  more  yet  than 
Glancy  Jones.     You  will  hear,  by  lienker,  that  General 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  527 

Mecnellan  iii  two  weeks  is  back  again  and  there  won't 
be  no  more  drafting  business."  Hans  expressed  the 
thought  of  the  lodge  and  a  great  shout  went  up  for 
"der  Ancoony." 

"  What  did  you  copperheads  yell  about  up  there  ? " 
Doctor  Heifer  inquired  of  Yonie  Zwiwwelberg  after  the 
session  was  over  and  the  Knights  came  straggling  into 
the  bar-room. 

"  Haven't  you  seen  Ancoony's  big  sjaeech  ? "  Yonie 
responded. 

"  Yes,  and  he  ought  to  be  sent  down  to  South  Carolina 
where  he  belongs,"  said  Heifer ;'' but  I  think  the  con- 
gressman from  the  county  beyond  Outlook  Hill  can  take 
care  of  him." 

Certainly  "  The  Great  Commoner "  did  take  good 
care  of  the  bill  in  question.  Withm  four  days  after 
Suydenham  E.  Ancona  made  his  speech  as  aforesaid, 
Congress  passed  the  enrollment  bill  by  a  very  large 
majority.  This  famous  Act  authorized  the  President  to 
appoint  a  provost  marshal  for  each  congressional  dis- 
trict. It  made  it  the  duty  of  the  provost  marshal  to 
arrest  all  deserters  from  the  army  including  drafted  men 
who  failed  to  report,  and  "•  to  detect,  seize,  and  confine 
spies  of  the  enemy  "  and  deliver  them  to  the  custody  of 
the  general  commanding  the  department  m  which  they 
might  be  arrested. 

It  ordered  that  all  cbafted  persons  who  failed  to 
report  without  furnishing  a  substitute  or  paying  for  one, 
should    be    deemed   deserters   and   be    arrested  by    the 


528  ENEMIES   EST   THE   REAH  ; 

provost  marshal  and  sent  to  the  nearest  military  post  for 
trial  by  court-martial.  It  enacted  tliat  all  persons  not 
subject  to  the  rules  and  articles  of  war  Avho  should 
entice  or  attempt  to  entice  a  soldier  to  desert,  or  who 
should  harbor  or  employ  a  deserter,  or  refuse  to  give 
him  up,  knowing  him  to  be  such,  were,  on  legal  convic- 
tion of-  the  offence,  to  be  fined  in  a  sum  not  exceeding 
five  hundred  dollars  and  imprisoned  not  less  than  six 
months  nor  more  than  two  years.  It  provided,  more- 
over, that  if  any  person  resisted  a  di'aft  made  under  it, 
or  counseled  or  aided  any  person  to  resist,  or  obstructed 
or  assaulted  any  officer  making  the  draft,  or  counseled  a 
drafted  man  not  to  report  for  duty,  or  dissuaded  him 
from  the  performance  of  military  duty  as  required  by 
law,  such  person  should  be  subject  to  summary  arrest  by 
the  provost  marshal  and  be  delivered  to  the  civil  author- 
ities, and  on  conviction  of  the  offence  be  punished  by  a 
fine  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars,  or  by  imprison- 
ment not  exceeding  two  years,  or  both ;  and  that  all 
persons  found  lurking  or  acting  as  spies  in  or  about  any 
fortifications,  posts,  quarters  or  encampments  of  any  of 
the  armies  of  the  United  States,  should  be  tried  by 
court-martial  or  military  commission,  and,  on  conviction, 
suffer  death. 

There  was  consternation  in  the  ranks  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Circle.  Their  joy  was  turned  into  moiu^n- 
ing.  The  bill  was  clear  in  its  definitions  and  statements, 
and  the  oath  they  had  taken  at  their  initiation  came 
in  direct  conflict  with  its  provisions.     Should  they  dis- 


OE,    A    GOLDEX    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  529 

band?  That  was  the  question  that  agitated  the  lodo-es 
of  southeastern  Pennsylvania.  The  next  meeting  of  the 
Copton  Lodge  was  largely  attended.  Huber  himself 
was  present  and,  as  if  reckless  with  desperation,  made  a 
fiery  speech.  The  sacred  habeas  corpus  was  now  in  the 
dust  and  they  Avere  all  under  the  tyrant's  heel.  All 
should  be  ready  to  go  to  prison  if  necessary  in  defence 
of  the  principles  of  liberty  inherited  from  Andrew 
Jackson  and  guaranteed  by  the  Constitution.  The  work 
of  the  lodges  must  go  on.  They  must  not  for  a  moment 
think  of  disbandment.  But,  like  the  forefathers  in  the 
Revolution,  they  must  be  exceedingly  cautious.  Spies 
must  be  guarded  against  and  traitors  punished.  "  If  we 
all  stand  together  like  good  patriots,  the  end  is  not 
far  off." 

It  is  not,  Philip  Huber.  The  great  arm  is  coming 
dangerously  near. 

"  But  none  of  the  persons  we  sent  warnings  to  has 
took  notice  of  them,"  said  Mike  Hahn.  "•  Doctor  Heifer 
defies  us  and  now  they'll  all  be  bolder  than  ever.  I 
wish  Ancoony  was  here  to  tell  us  what  to  do." 

"  In  two  weeks  I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  give  you 
further  instructions,"  said  Huber.  '^  By  that  time  I 
shall  hear  from  Indiana  and  we  will  know  what  to  do. 
Remember,  I'm  at  Reading  now.  I  can  get  information 
quicker  there,  and  to  hoodmnk  the  spies  I've  taken 
some  work  at  the  upper  foundry  which  doesn't  take 
near  all  my  time." 

The  men  to  whom  Hahn  referred  surely  seemed  to 


530  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR. 

give  no  heed  to  tlie  mysterious  communications  they  had 
received,  except  that  they  kept  a  close  watch  and 
prepared  themselves  better  to  meet  any  attempts  at 
physical  violence.  Sharp  Billy  several  times  narrowly 
escaped  personal  injury  at  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  and 
in  going  to  and  fro  between  home  and  Haltfest  made 
numbers  of  detours. 

"  See  here,"  said  he  one  day  to  Tom  Hartnagel,  '•'■  look 
what  my  mam  gave  me  yesterday.  It's  a  fortune-teller 
and  she  thinks  I  can  use  it  some  day  to  tell  the  fortune 
of  somebody  that  won't  let  me  alone."  He  exhibited  to 
his  friend  a  bright  revolver  which  his  foster-mother  had 
bought  for  him  of  Yorim  the  peddler. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

LOVINA  HAETNAGEL  FORGETS  HERSELF. 

On  Saturday  evening,  March  14,  1863,  a  week  after 
Huber's  harangue,  the  Knights  of  Copton  met  at  Mike 
Hahn's  house  in  the  same  room  where  they  had  met  so 
often  before.  In  view  of  their  experiences  the  members 
of  the  order  had  grown  susj)icious  by  this  time  and  were 
generally  cautious  in  manner  and  speech.  The  act  so 
recently  passed  by  Congress  was  a  stimulus  to  still 
greater  care  to  keep  improper  persons  out  of  hearing 
when  their  secret  meetings  were  held. 

Hans  Prantman  had  called  Halm's  attention  to  Lovina 
Hartnagel  and  Mike  had  grown  a  trifle  uneasy  about  that 
young  woman. 

"•  She's  Tom  Hartnagel's  sister,"  Prantman  had  said, 
"•  and  I  see  her  go  to  the  Yankee's  house  on  Sundays 
oftener  than  is  healthy  and  you  mustn't  trust  her." 

Thus  far  Hahn  had  never  mistrusted  Lovina  at  all, 
but  he  now  recollected  that  her  room  was  dii'ectly  over 
the  one  in  which  the  Knights  held  their  meetings.  How- 
ever, nothing  had  ever  been  noticed  amiss  during  the 
sessions  of  the  lodge.  Lovma  herself  was  a  model  of 
discreetness.  She  never  mentioned  the  Knights  in  her 
intercourse  with  the  family  and  seemed  innocence  and 
simplicity  combined.  But  on  this  particular  evening 
when  awhile  after  dark  the  members  began  to  gather, 


532  ENEMIES   IX   THE   EEAE  ; 

Hahn  asked  his  wife  whether  Lovina  was  in  her  room. 
The  reply  was  that  she  had  gone  home  and  would  not 
return  until  after  church  to-morrow. 

"  You  don't  want  to  take  her  in,  I  think,"  Mrs.  Hahn 
went  on.  "  We  women  don't  care  a  devil  about  your 
nonsense  and  if  you  catch  it  sometime,  don't  ask  us  to 
nurse  you.  You'd  better  all  go  to  bed  instead  of  filling 
the  house  with  mud  so  that  we  can't  go  to  church 
to-morrow  for  cleaning  it  out,  you  heretics  you." 

Notwithstanding  this  sharp  rebuke  from  his  wife  — 
who  by  the  way  was  own  cousin  to  Lovina's  father,  and 
less  than  half  approved  the  doings  of  the  Circle  - —  Hahn 
assured  himself  that  Lovma  was  gone  by  taking  a  lamp 
and  looking  through  her  room.  The  knothole  in  the 
floor  he  did  not  discover,  for  the  maiden  had  carefully 
laid  over  it  the  only  piece  of  carpet  her  humble  apart- 
ment contained  and  he  returned  below  Avell  satisfied  that 
so  far  as  the  hired  girl  was  concerned  the  coast  was  clear. 

Now  it  so  happened  that  Tom  Hartnagel  had  seen  his 
sister  during  the  week  when  she  carried  the  eggs  to 
Fettig's.  He  told  her  that  if  the  Knights  met  at  Halm's 
on  Saturday  night  she  must  not  fail  to  be  at  her  post 
in  the  room  above. 

"  You  know,"  said  he,  "  under  the  new  draft  law  we 
can  catch  these  copperheads  easy,  Lovina.  If  you  can 
hear  again  what  you  heard  before,  when  Huber  initiates 
members,  it'll  go  far  towards  downing  them,  and  if  you 
ain't  afraid  to  listen  and  will  afterwards  testify  if  neces- 
sary, it  may  be  a  big  thing  for  the  government. 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CERCLE   SQUARED.  533 

"  I'm  not  afraid,  Tom,  at  least  not, — -well  not  much," 
replied  Lovina.  "  I've  thought  that  Hahn  sometimes 
looks  suspiciously  at  me  lately,  and  of  course  if  they 
caught  me  listenuig  they  might  hurt  me." 

"  By  Rinaldo  Rinaldini !  "  exclaimed  Tom  so  hastily 
that  Lovina  had  to  check  him  for  fear  he  might  be  over- 
heard, "  if  any  of  them  rebels  touches  you,  Lovina,  I'U 
make  leberwurst  out  of  every  one  of  them  !  " 

"I'll  do  it,  Tom,  if  they  make  me  dead,"  she  said 
resolutely. 

"  There'll  be  no  danger,  Lovina,  if  you  make  no  noise, 
for  if  they  found  you  in  your  room,  there  would  be  noth- 
ing against  you.  Once  more,  and  we'll  get  Huber  where 
it  won't  rain  on  him  and  you'll  go  home  to  father's  and 
get  promotion." 

Lovina  was  on  her  mettle  now,  for  not  only  was  she  a 
staunch  Union  girl  but  above  all  things  she  prized  her 
brother's  approbation.  Her  feminine  instinct  taught 
her  that  her  employer  was  at  least  a  bit  suspicious  of  her 
and  she  believed  it  probable  that  if  a  meeting  were  held 
at  Halm's  on  Saturday  night,  her  bedroom  Avould  be  ex- 
amined beforehand.  On  Friday  morning  she  learned 
from  words  dropped  in  conversation  that  the  meeting 
would  be  held  there.  She  flushed  a  little  and  Hahn 
noticed  it.  She  at  once  concluded  that  unless  she  used 
a  little  deception  she  would  not  succeed  in  her  design 
and  as  the  cause  was  good  she  did  not  hesitate  to  employ 
it.  Accordingly  she  asked  permission  to  go  home  on 
Saturday  night    and  after    the  milking  was   done  she 


534  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAE ; 

changed  her  garments  and  started  away.  It  was  very 
dark  but  Lovina  was  a  hardy  young  woman  and  did  not 
mind  it.  She  went  down  the  road  a  few  rods,  then 
turned  back  and  entered  the  house  by  the  front  door. 
The  latter  was  seldom  used  but  she  had  taken  care  to 
unlock  it  shortly  before  going  away.  Had  she  been  a 
minute  sooner,  she  would  have  encountered  the  head  of 
the  house  returnmg  from  her  room.  Fortune  favored 
her,  the  hall  was  dark  and  in  a  moment  she  had  tripped 
noiselessly  up  the  steps  and  was  safe  behind  her  own 
door.  Though  all  m  a  tremble  of  excitement,  she 
silently  laughed  over  her  success  thus  far.  By  this  time 
the  room  below  her  was  crowded  with  men,  and  when 
Huber  came  in  he  was  greeted  as  one  might  be  on  whom 
the  hope  of  the  Nation  depended. 

Amid  the  noise  incident  to  his  reception  Lovina 
gently  removed  the  carpet  from  the  knot-hole.  Laying 
her  head  close  by  the  latter,  she  was  able  to  hear  all 
that  was  said  and  done  and  also  now  and  then  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  those  who  were  immediately  below  her,  with- 
out danger  of  betrayal  by  the  light. 

About  twenty  new  members  were  sworn  m  and  each 
man  paid  down  his  hard-earned  dollar.  The  same  ques- 
tions were  asked  and  the  same  instructions  given  as  on 
all  former  occasions  of  initiation,  followed  by  the  usual 
grunts  of  approval  and  looks  of  amazement  on  the  part 
of  the  initiates.  When  the  ceremony  of  initiation  was 
over  Huber  fell  to  telling  of  the  progress  the  good  work 
was  making  in  the  West  —  the  accessions  to  the  Circle 


OR,    A    GOLDElSr   CERCLE    SQUARED.  535 

and  the  rapid  crystallization  of  the  anti-war  elements  by 
its  means. 

"  How  about  them  instructions  from  out  there  ? " 
interrupted  the  rude  Pfannkuchen.  "  It's  about  time 
we  heard  from  there." 

"  That's  so,"  growled  Christian  Mehlhuber.  "  It's 
time.  If  the  war  goes  on,  this  summer  we  millers  must 
give  half  our  tolls  to  help  feed  the  niggers,  they  tell  me." 

"It'll  be  worse  than  that,"  said  Huber.  "They'll 
quarter  soldiers  on  you  and  the  land  will  swarm  with 
spies  like  frogs  in  Egypt,  and  the  spies  will  be  uglier 
than  the  frogs,  for  these  at  least  couldn't  betray  those 
among  whom  they  came." 

"  Sacrament !  "  snarled  Prantman,  senior. 

"Under  the  infamous  law,"  said  Huber,  "passed  in 
spite  of  all  the  mighty  efforts  of  that  noble  son  of 
liberty,  Suydenham  E.  Ancona"  — 

"  Hurrah  for  the  Ancoony !  "  shouted  Mike  Hahn. 
"Under  this  awful  new  draft  law,"  resumed  Huber," 
"  a  number  of  police  spies  have  ah-eady  been  appointed 
and  sent  out  and  one  cannot  trust  even  one's  own  ser- 
vants any  more." 

"Say,  you  Halin,"  interrupted  Hans  Prantman  with 
characteristic  Pennsylvania  Dutch  freedom  of  manners, 
"how  about  that  Hartnagel  girl?"  —  Lovina's  heart 
gave  a  big  leap  —  "I  did  see  her  with  that  Esel  of  a 
brother  of  hers  last  Wednesday  morning." 

"  Oh,  she  went  home  to-night  and  won't  be  back  till 
to-morrow,"  answered  Hahn.     Lovina  smiled  in  the  dark 


536  ENEMIES   EST   THE   REAR  ; 

but  her  heart  accelerated  its  speed  more  and  more  as 
this  dialogue  proceeded. 

"  That  is  right,"  said  Huber.  "  It's  best  nowadays  to 
regard  everybody  as  a  spy  unless  we  are  quite  sure  he  is 
all  right. — As  to  the  instructions  from  the  West,  I 
believe  that  when  we  meet  next  Saturday  night  in 
Prantman's  barn  I  shall  be  able  to  give  you  news  that 
will  make  glad  the  heart  of  every  man  who  believes  that 
this  country  is  for  white  men  and  not  for  niggers." 

"  Hurrah  for  the  Huber !  "  shouted  Hans  Prantman. 

"  And  for  the  Ancoony,"  added  Hahn  enthusiastically. 

"  And  too  for  the  Heister  Clymer !  "  yelled  Mehl- 
huber ;  "  he's  opposed  to  the  habas  corpis,  which  means 
taking  the  toll  from  millers,  lean  on  that." 

"  Hurrah  for  Jefferson  Davis  ! "  shouted  Andrew 
Pfannkucken  and  Yonie  Zwiwwelberg  simultaneously. 

"  Thank  you,  friends,"  said  Huber  bowing  ;  "  we  are 
all  doing  the  best  we  can  for  you.  Maybe  it  might 
be  best  not  to  mention  Mr.  Davis  too  loud.  Some 
black-snake  might  hear  you  and  use  it  against  our  noble 
order,  you  see.  Mr.  Ancona  will  be  up  here  himself 
before  long  to  address  you.  He  is  home  froni  Washing- 
ton and  I  saw  him  to-daf^.  He  is  tired  out  from  making 
motions  to  adjourn  and  lay  on  the  table  and  voting.  He's 
more  than  a  match  for  old  Thad  Stevens.  He's  strong 
on  motions  to  adjourn  and  embarrasses  the  Radicals  bad 
in  that  way." 

"  Let  him  grow  this  way  once,  we  want  to  hear  him," 
said  Pfannkuchen. 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  537 

"He'll  come,"  replied  Huber. — -"And  now  to  kill  all 
suspicion  I  want  to  appoint  a  meeting  in  Prantman's 
orchard  for  next  Saturday  afternoon  at  two  o'clock  if  it 
is  not  too  cold  to  assemble.  We  will  call  it  a  Union 
meeting  and  invite  everybody.  To  interest  the  people 
I'll  discuss  some  question  about  the  conduct  of  the  war 
and  will  say  something  relative  to  being  loyal  and  true 
which  all  Kniohts  will  understand.  Then  at  eio;ht 
o'clock  we'll  quietly  meet  in  the  barn  to  mitiate  some 
more  men  who  Fettig  tells  me  want  to  be  in  the  good 
ranks.  And  I  will  now  appoint  Andrew  Pfannkuchen 
and  Peter  Prantman  to  search  the  barn  carefully  for 
spies  before  the  meetmg  begins,  for  I've  been  led  to 
believe  that  on  the  very  night  our  lodge  was  organized 
there  somebody  outside  got  our  pass-word.  This  time 
nobody  wiU." 

"  Not  handy  !  "  said  Pfannkuchen  savagely.  "  If 
anybody  hides  there  next  Saturday  night,  he'll  get  run 
through." 

"  That's  right  too,"  said  the  leader.  "  It's  only  self- 
defence." 

"•  And  if  it's  Tom  Hartnagel,"  cried  Pfannkuchen 
with  an  oath,  "  I'll  run  him  through  mth  a  pitch-fork 
and  not  only  once,  but  " • 

"  Do  it  if  you  dare  !  "  came  in  a  clear  female  voice  at 
this  point  through  the  knot-hole  in  the  floor  above. 

"  Donnerwetter  !  what's  that  ?  "  exclaimed  Pete  Prant- 
man springing  to  his  feet.  There  were  many  blanched 
faces.     The  lodge  was  betrayed  ! 


638  ENEIVIIES    nST    THE   REAR; 

''  It's  that  Hartnagel  witch,  I  tell  you,"  said  Prant- 
man,  senior,  in  a  subdued  voice. 

"  See  to  it  quick,"  said  Huber  much  excited.  Thus 
exhorted  Hahn  seized  a  lamp  and  hurried  into  the  hall 
followed  by  the  whole  lodge.  The  front  door  was  wide 
open  and  a  gust  of  wind  put  out  his  light  in  a  twinkhng. 
To  close  the  door  and  renew  the  light  consumed  several 
moments  —  enough  to  save  the  listener  up  stairs. 

It  need  not  be  said  that  the  words  which  had  startled 
the  Knights  fell  from  the  lips  of  Lovina  Hartnagel.  In 
her  indignation  at  Pfannkuchen's  cruel  thi-eat  against 
her  brother  she  forgot  herself  and  the  note  of  defiance 
escaped  her.  Pete  Prantman's  exclamation  reminded 
her  instantly  of  her  sad  mistake  and  of  the  necessity  for 
prompt  action  if  she  would  escape  insult  and  possibly 
personal  injury.  Rising  softly  to  her  feet,  she  Avent  to 
the  window  and  raised  the  lower  sash  as  far  as  it  would 
go.  Fortvmately  the  wmdow  was  not  directly  over  the 
corresponding  one  in  the  room  below.  She  knew,  more- 
over, that  there  was  a  pile  of  wet  straw  just  mider, 
thrown  there  that  very  day  by  the  stable  boy  when  he 
opened  the  cellar  windows.  She  resolved  to  risk  injury 
from  a  high  leap  rather  than  trust  herself  to  the  fury  of 
the  angry  Knights.  By  this  time  she  heard  voices  in 
the  hall  and  rapid  footsteps  ascending  the  stairs.  She 
crept  upon  the  window-sill  and  then,  hanging  by  her 
hands  a  moment  to  steady  herself,  di'opped  down.  She 
struck  the  side  of  the  heap  of  straw  and  sustained  no 
harm.     The    great    watch-dog    in    his    kennel    close  by 


OE,    A    GOLDEN    CIECLE    SQUARED.  539 

sprung  out  fiercely  but  at  once  recognized  her  and  went 
back  to  his  bed.  She  had  barely  regained  her  feet 
when  she  heard  a  crash  as  of  a  door  and  saw  a  light  in 
her  room. 

"  The  window  is  open  and  she's  gone  sure,"  she  heard 
Hahn  say. 

"  She  must  be  brought  back  and  put  under  oath. 
Quick  !  "  said  another  voice. 

"  She  isn't  far  yet  and  Pete  and  me'll  bring  her  back 
in  a  hurry,"  exclaimed  a  third,  whom  she  knew  to  be 
Pfannkuchen.  "  I  think  maybe  she's  laying  below 
with  a  broken  neck.     I  hope  so  anyhow." 

The  brave  girl  waited  no  longer.  Dark  as  it  was,  her 
familiarity  with  the  premises  enabled  her  to  move 
through  the  yard  with  ease.  She  made  her  way  to  the 
back  gate,  intending  to  run  across  the  fields  to  her 
father's  house  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  away,  but 
as  she  passed  tlirough  the  gate  some  one  close  by  said  in 
a  low  voice  "  Ruhig  !  Lovina,  is  that  you  here  ?  "  By 
this  time  she  was  thoroughly  frightened  and  believing 
herself  headed  off  already,  gave  a  little  scream. 

"  Lovina  !  Don't  you  know  Tom  ?  What  is  the  mat- 
ter ?  "  said  her  brother  taking  the  trembling  girl  in  his 
arms. 

"  Oh,  Tom,  Tom,  I'm  so  glad  it's  you !  "  she  gasped. 
"  But  hurry  yourself,  hurry  yourself  bad.  They're  com- 
ing to  take  me  back  and  make  me  take  an  oath." 

"  Who  is?     Tell  me,"  said  Hartnagel  hastily. 

"  Andy   Pfannkuchen ;    and    he  said    he'd    run    you 


640  ENEMIES   DSr  THE  REAR; 

through  with  a  fork.  Hurry  yourself  bad !  Let's  go. 
See,  there  comes  somebody  with  a  lantern." 

"  Take  you  back,  Lovina,  eh  ? "  said  Tom,  grinding 
his  teeth.  "  Hallelujah  once  more  !  The  big  rebel !  — 
Here,  Billy,"  he  whispered  to  Sharp  Billy,  who  was  close 
by,  "  you  stay  here  with  Lovina.  I'll  be  back  in  half  a 
minute  and  if  any  one  offers  to  lay  hands  on  you  or  her, 
use  that  fortune-teller  your  mam  gave  you.  But  don't 
shoot  me  by  mistake.  I'll  say  '  H.  O.'  when  I  come 
back." 

"  I'll  take  care  of  Lovina,  lean  now  on  that,"  said 
Billy  softly,  but  with  much  emphasis.  Tom  went  back 
into  the  yard  toward  the  lantern,  which  flitted  hither 
and  thither  like  a  Will-o'-the-wisp.  Presently  he  got  in 
front  of  Pfannkuchen  and  the  latter  stumbled  against 
him. 

"  Here,  Andy,  run  me  through  and  then  take  Lovina 
back,  but  take  this  first,"  and  the  giant  measured  his 
length  on  the  ground  with  a  blow  from  Hartnagel's  fist. 
The  lantern  flew  across  the  ground  at  least  ten  feet  and 
went  out. 

"  I'll  teach  you  secessionists  to  make  my  sister  take 
an  oath,"  he  shouted  and  in  a  moment  had  rejoined 
Lovina  and  Sharp  Billy.  A  number  of  Knights,  hearing 
the  noise,  now  came  out  into  the  yard.  Most  of  these 
made  off  in  the  dark,  evidently  beheving  an  attack  was 
about  to  be  made  upon  the  lodge.  Tom  and  his  young 
friend  supported  Lovina  between  them,  and  the  three  in 
a  short  time  reached  Martin  Hartnagel's  house. 


OB,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  541 

"You  see,  Lovina,"  said  Tom,  after  they  got  there, 
"  after  I  saw  you  on  Wecbiesday  it  struck  me  that  I 
ought  to  be  around  Hahn's  place  Saturday  night  and 
that  I  should  have  told  you  so.  I  had  no  chance  to  tell 
you  afterwards,  but  Billy  and  me  has  been  about  there 
since  dark.  We  were  close  by  when  you  went  in  at  the 
front  door,  but  couldn't  speak  to  you,  though  we  Icnew 
you  was  up  to  something  because  you  used  the  front 
door.  We  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  house  when  you 
jumped  it  seems." 

"And  Lovina  didn't  say  how-de-do  to  me  when  we 
met  and  I  won't  look  at  her  the  next  time  we  meet," 
said  Sharp  Billy  in  an  injured  tone.  Everybody  re- 
garded that  as  a  pretty  good  joke  and  all  laughed 
heartily  at  it  as  they  sipped  hot  coffee. 

"  I'll  tell  you  one  fellow  who  won't  look  at  anybody 
for  a  week,  I  think,"  said  Tom, — "  Billy,  did  you  see 
Andy  Pfannkuchen's  lantern  fly  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  thought  it  was  a  falling  star,"  answered 
Billy. 

"  They  know  I  heard  everything,"  said  Lovina,  "and 
I'm  afraid  they'll  do  something  awful  now." 

"Awful,  nix  I "  cried  her  brother.  "  As  Captain 
Ruthvon  says,  the  time  for  fooling  with  these  secession- 
ists is  past.  They're  getting  too  numerous  and  too 
troublesome  and  Uncle  Sam  must  deal  with  them  in 
earnest  now." 

Mr.  and  INIrs.  Hartnagel  and  the  rest  of  the  family  had 
all  arisen  out  of  bed  when  Tom  and  his  party  came,  and 


542  ENEMIES   IN   THE   REAR; 

listened  with  mucli  interest  to  the  account  of  the  nighb's 
adventures.  The  old  gentleman  was  very  indignant, 
though  his  daughter  was  none  the  worse  for  her  leap  for 
liberty.  He  was  an  energetic  man  and  not  long 
after  this  was  appointed  an  enrolling  officer  under  the 
new  law.  On  Sunday  afternoon  Tom  had  an  interview 
with  Captain  Ruthvon. 

"  I  am  sorry  for  our  neighbors,"  said  the  latter  when 
Hartnagel  had  finished  his  graphic  recital  of  the  occur- 
rences of  the  previous  night.  "  I  hoped  they  would  take 
warning  from  the  past.  Do  you  think,  Tom,  the  lodge 
here  will  attempt  to  meet  at  Prantman's  barn  now  ac- 
cording to  appointment  ?  " 

"  I  really  don't  know,  captain.  The  best  way  to  find 
out  is  for  me  to  hang  around  Baltzer's  this  week  as  much 
as  I  can." 

"  We  don't  care  about  the  afternoon  meeting,  Tom. 
That  is  only  a  blind  and  Philip  Huber  is  too  cunning  to 
commit  himself  rashly  in  public.  The  lodge  meeting  is 
what  we  want  to  get  at,  and  if  it's  possible  we  must  have 
one  or  two  unmvited  but  reliable  persons  there  to  hear 
the  proceedings.  I  think  that  is  all  that  will  be  needed 
now  in  addition  to  what  we  already  have  to  enable  the 
government  to  spring  its  steel-trap.  I  also  think  I  know 
of  one  man  who  will  be  there,  and  maybe  two." 

"I'm  one,  captain,  if  you  want  me,  I  bet  you  on  it," 
said  Hartnagel  heartily. 

"  I  counted  on  you." 

"  You  can.     I  know  it  won't  be  nice  to  have  a  spite- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  543 

fill  fellow  prod  around  in  the  hay  and  straw  with  a 
pitch-fork  when  you're  hiding  there.  But  I  can  work 
the  wind-mill  trick  on  them.  They'll  never  think  of 
looking  there."  The  captain  Avas  much  amused  at  the 
idea  and  greatly  admired  the  ready  tact  and  blunt  man- 
ner of  his  friend, 

"■  It's  a  great  idea,"  he  said,  "  but  Billy  must  not 
come  near  this  time ;  he  might  spoil  everything  and  get 
hurt  besides." 

"  Who  is  the  other  person,  captain,  if  I  might  ask, 
and  where'U  he  hide  ?  " 

"  Come  to  our  house  without  fail  next  Friday  night 
after  dark.  You  will  find  Sallie  there  of  course,  and 
me,  but  will  also  likely  see  somebody  else  Avho  will  tell 
you  more  about  this  matter." 

"I'll  be  there  sure;  and,  captain,"  he  continued, 
coming  closer  to  Charles  and  speaking  in  a  confidential 
way,  "  let  me  say  to  you  that  the  Yankee's  daughter  is 
getting  more  beautiful  every  day,  and  next  to  Sallie 
Vonneida  she's  the  sweetest  girl  in  the  U.  S.  of  A.,  and 
therefore  in  the  whole  world  !  " 

"  And  neither  you  nor  Sallie  Avill  be  forgotten  on  your 
wedding  day,"  responded  Captain  Ruthvon  smiling  as 
Tom  Hartnagel  left  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

UNCLE    SAJVI   PEEPAKES    TO    SQUARE   THE    CIRCLE. 

"  Squire,  what's  this  I  hear  about  the  Knights  being 
disturbed  at  a  meeting  last  Saturday  night  at  Mike 
Hahn's  house  ? "  Doctor  Heifer  asked  Squire  Zwei- 
springer  on  Monday  forenoon. 

"  As  near  as  I  can  find  out  Lovina  Hartnagel  had 
something  to  do  with  it,"  answered  the  squire.  "  Tom 
won't  say  much  about  it.  He  told  me  to  wait  a  little 
and  I'd  see  something  good  for  sore  eyes." 

"  Big  Andrew  Pfannkuchen  came  and  roused  me  up 
early  yesterday  morning.  His  face  looked  like  a  pillow 
for  size,  and  like  the  sky  for  color,  to  say  nothing  of  a  cut 
on  his  left  cheek.  He  told  me  Prantman's  mule  had 
kicked  him.  I  think  he's  been  putting  in  his  nose 
again  where  he  had  no  business.      That's  it." 

The  rumor  that  something  unusual  had  occurred  at 
the  last  meeting  of  the  lodge  was  an  advertisement  for 
the  "  Union  "  rally  in  Prantman's  orchard  on  Saturday 
afternoon.  It  likewise  increased  the  attendance  at  the 
Spring  election  on  Friday,  and  hence  the  majority 
by  which  Frederick  Ruthvon  and  Squire  Zweispringer, 
who  ran  on  an  independent  ticket  for  school  director 
and  justice  of  the  peace  respectively,  were  defeated. 

Susie  Zweispringer  and  Blanche  Chetwynde  stood  by  . 


OE,    A   GOLDEN   CIKCLE   SQUARED.  545 

the  sitting-room  mndow  in  the  home  of  the  latter  on 
Saturday  afternoon. 

"  There  they  go,  the  rebels,"  said  Susie. 

"  Papa  is  going  too,"  said  Blanche,  and  he  never  went 
to  such  gathermgs  here  before." 

"  So  is  mine,"  answered  Susie  ;  "  he  wants  to  hear 
Ancona,  who  is  to  speak  again.  Papa  says  a  number 
of  the  6th  Pa.  cavahy  fi-om  the  neighborhood  of 
Frisbie  are  home  on  furlough.  I  do  vnsh  they'd  get 
hold  of  Huber  and  his  Knights  just  five  minutes  !  "  and 
the  tap  was  once  more  heard. 

A  great  crowd  of  men  gathered  in  Pi'antman's 
orchard  at  the  hour  appointed.  The  weather  was  chilly 
and  limestone  mud  plenty,  but  these  did  not  hinder 
people  from  coming  to  see  Knight  Huber  and  Congress 
man  Ancona  and  hear  their  deliverances  on  the  war. 
If  it  is  asked  why  Huber  held  this  meeting  in  the  face 
of  recent  events,  the  answer  is  that  he  reasoned  that  to 
give  it  up  would  mean  the  loss  of  prestige  and  that 
by  discussing  perfectly  legitimate  subjects  he  would  con- 
vince all  spies  and  informers  who  might  be  m  the 
audience  that  he  was  a  law-abiding  citizen  Avho  had 
called  the  people  together  in  lawful  assemblage  as 
guaranteed  by  the  Constitution. 

Tom  Hartnagel  was  conspicuous  in  the  throng.  He 
wore  a  resolute  air  and  his  jaws  seemed  more  firmly  set 
than  ever.  With  him  was  Sharp  Billy,  whom  he  in- 
sisted on  having  at  the  meeting  as  a  sort  of  defiance  to 
every  mdividual  Knight  present.     In  the  gathering  too 


546  eintemies  iisr  the  rear  ; 

was  a  stranger.  He  was  dressed  in  farmers'  every-day 
clothes.  He  was  quite  tall  and  very  spare  but  evidently 
wiry  and  lithe  as  a  catamount.  His  eyes  were  sharp  as 
a  lynx's,  and  seemed  to  look  in  every  direction  at 
almost  the  same  moment.  He  was  exceedingly  friendly 
and  manifested  great  interest  in  the  meeting  and  the 
community  generally.  Before  the  proceedings  began,  he 
sauntered  up  to  Huber  in  the  most  careless  manner  and 
inquired  whether  he  had  begun  plowing  corn-stubble 
yet.  He  asked  the  Knight  also  concerning  the  progress 
of  the  good  cause  among  the  sovereign  people,  and 
expressed  himself  in  favor  of  using  every  means  to  resist 
the  tyrants  and  robbers  who  were  crushing  the  life 
out  of  the  tax-payers  in  order  to  free  a  lot  of  vicious 
niggers. 

"  My  name  is  Lewis  Waffelfenger,"  said  he.  "  I'd 
like  to  speak  to  this  crowd  but  I've  never  done  anything 
but  plow  and  can't  talk  much.  I  live  beyond  the  Forge 
and  know  that  rascal  of  a  Hartnagel  standing  over 
there.  You'd  better  look  out  for  him,  he's  watching 
you  and  would  put  irons  on  you  in  a  minute  if  he 
dared." 

Huber  now  called  the  meeting  to  order  and  made  a 
speech.  None  better  than  he  knew  the  meaning  and 
scope  of  the  new  Conscript  Act  and  he  had  diligently 
considered  beforehand  how  far  he  might  go  without 
making  himself  liable  to  its  penalties.  He  discussed 
high  taxes,  Lincoln  coffee,  the  removal  of  Gen. 
^<;Clellan,  and  the  need  of  organizing  for  mutua^l  bene- 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  547 

fit,  like  tlie  Odd  Fellows  and  others.  He  extolled  the 
example  set  by  the  township  of  Copton  on  the  previous 
day  in  electing  white  men  to  office,  and  the  heroism  of 
Suydenham  E.  Ancona  in  resistmg  the  Draft  Act  in 
Congress  at  the  peril  of  his  life.  He  eulogized  Hi 
Wambsgans  —  of  whose  death  from  fever  news  had  just 
been  received  —  as  a  martyr.  For  the  thousands  of 
brave  volunteers  in  the  field  and  for  the  sick  and 
wounded  in  the  hospitals,  he  had  no  kind  word.  To 
questions  about  the  occurrences  at  Halm's  house  he 
made  evasive,  facetious  replies,  and  a  good  many  who 
had  never  heard  him  were  disappointed  with  his  speech. 
The  fire  and  energy  they  had  been  told  of  were  lacking. 
They  were  not  aware  that  the  Knight  had  been  robbed 
of  his  eloquence  by  an  intuition  of  the  nearness  of  the 
great  arm.  Some  of  his  audience  left  while  he  was  yet 
speaking.  Lewis  WaffeKenger  at  any  rate  had  disap- 
peared, though  not  before  he  had  observed  Yonie  Zwiw- 
welberg  moving  about  among  the  men  and  whispering 
to  this  one  and  that  one. 

Congressman  Ancona  had  been  advertised  to  address 
the  meeting  but  for  reasons  perhaps  best  known  to  him- 
self that  individual  failed  to  appear.  Altogether,  the 
proceedings  were  comited  rather  tame.  It  was  yet 
early  when  this  '■'  Union  "  meeting  came  to  a  close,  and 
as  the  people  had  become  chilled  by  the  March  wind, 
they  quickly  left  the  place. 

An  hour  after  night-fall  human  forms  might  have 
been   heard    stealthily    approaching    Hans    Prantman's 


548  ENEMIES    DSr   THE   REAR  ; 

barn  and  entering,  after  giving  a  conntersign  to  pickets 
placed  all  about  the  building  at  short  intervals.  Rain 
began  to  fall  and  when  the  young  moon  set  the  darkness 
became  dense.  But  for  some  time  men  continued  to 
come  by  twos  and  threes.  The  barn  was  lit  up  dimly 
with  lanterns  and  a  couple  of  lamps  set  on  a  table.  At 
nine  o'clock  Philip  Huber  called  the  Copton  lodge  of 
Knights  to  order.  He  had  determined  to  hold  this 
meeting  in  spite  of  what  Lovina  Hartnagel  might  have 
revealed.  In  case  of  trouble  she  was  but  one  witness, 
and  even  she  had  seen  no  one  at  the  session  at  Halm's 
and  would  not  be  able  to  make  any  positive  statements 
as  to  any  persons  who  took  part  presuming  that  she  was 
courageous  enough  to  testify ;  and  he  would  make  sure 
that  no  unauthorized  persons  came  near  enough  to-night 
to  hear  lodge  secrets.  The  right  of  assemblage  must  be 
vindicated. 

First  of  all,  then,  Pete  Prantman  and  Andrew  Pfann- 
kuchen  proceeded  to  search  the  premises  for  spies. 
Their  task  was  not  a  difficult  one  apparently,  for  being 
spring-time,  there  were  comparatively  little  hay  and 
straw  in  the  barn  and  consequently  but  few  hiding- 
places.  They  used  immense  pitch-forks  in  the  jarosecu- 
tion  of  their  appointed  work.  Having  gone  through  the 
lower  part  of  the  barn,  they  came  back  and  viciovisly 
prodded  the  hay  in  the  left  mow  and  then  the  bundles 
of  rye-straw  in  the  right  as  if  each  bundle  held  a  Lincoln 
spy  and  they  were  running  him  through.  They  mounted 
to  the  ''  oberden  "  but  it  was  empty  now  and  no  one  was 


OE,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  549 

found  there.  So  the  committee  announced  to  Huber 
that  their  duty  was  discharged  and  that  all  was  well. 

Then  the  proceedings  proper  began.  No  less  than 
seventy-nine  candidates  were  initiated  and  precisely  that 
many  additional  dollars  jingled  in  the  pockets  of  the 
chief  Knight.  The  usual  questions  were  asked  and  the 
usual  instructions  given.  At  each  question  there  were 
suppressed  chuckles  under  the  straw  in  the  right  mow, 
and  we  may  imagine  that  every  letter  of  the  Conscript 
Act  on  the  statute  book  at  Washington  rose  from  the 
page  and  pointed  at  Philip  Huber.  After  the  initiations 
the  leader  by  request  explained  the  Act  more  fully  and 
then  launched  forth  into  a  speech  in  which  he  denounced 
President  Lincoln  and  his  cabinet  in  unmeasured  terms. 
Some  members  clamored  to  know  about  the  promised 
uprising  in  the  West. 

"  No  signal  has  yet  been  given,"  said  Huber  in  reply, 
*'  but  the  leaven  is  working.  There  is  discontent  among 
the  generals  and  they  are  all  jealous  of  each  other. 
Some  of  them  will  soon  find  out  that  in  the  day  of  battle 
their  own  troops  will  not  obey  them,  and  who  can  blame 
them  after  the  awful  and  useless  slaughter  at  Fredericks- 
burg ?  " 

"  But  what's  to  be  done  ? "  said  Hans  Prantman. 
"  Are  we  to  sit  here  until  we're  all  made  dead  ?  " 

"  Let  all  members  keep  well  armed  and  be  prepared," 
answered  the  chief.  "  Don't  talk  at  all  about  last 
Saturday  night.  I  think  the  girl  will  be  afraid  to  say 
much.     Terrible  times  may  be  close  at  hand  and  you 


550  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR; 

must  keep  a  sharp  watch  on  your  Radical  neighbors,"  he 
added  significantly.  There  being  now  no  more  business, 
the  lodge  adjourned  to  meet  at  Mehlhuber's  mill  on  the 
following  Saturday. 

In  a  few  minutes  all  was  silent  in  the  great  building. 
Then  there  was  a  rustling  in  the  straw  and  the  tall,  thin 
form  of  Lewis  Waffelfenger  gradually  rose  up.  The 
barn  was  dark  as  pitch  but  the  stranger  had  evidently 
taken  his  bearings  in  the  afternoon,  for  in  a  short  time  he 
was  through  the  little  door  in  the  board  pai'tition  and  out 
on  the  threshing-floor.  Presently  the  fanning-mill  which 
stood  in  a  niche  partitioned  off  for  it  in  the  hay-mow, 
was  shoved  to  one  side  a  bit  and  Tom  Hartnagel  came 
forth. 

"  R.  D."  said  he  in  a  low  voice. 

"•  H.  O.,"  answered  Lewis  Waffelfenger.  , 

"  Could  you  hear  what  the  rebels  said?"  asked  Hart- 
nagel. 

"  Every  word,"  answered  the  stranger,  "•  and  with  your 
testimony  and  your  sister's  we  have  a  clear  case  against 
Huber  at  least.  But  I  do  say,  R.  D.,  that  in  all  my 
long  experience  in  my  business  I  never  felt  quite  as  un- 
comfortable as  I  did  when  that  Dutchman  walked  over 
me  and  jammed  his  pitch-fork  with  a  vicious  grunt  into 
the  straw  all  around  me.  I've  got  on  three  coats  and 
wear  a  heavy  steel  vest  besides.  But  I  knew  these 
wouldn't  protect  my  head  and  neck  and  yet  I  didn't  dare 
stir  at  all.  By  swipes !  the  fellow  put  the  fork  right 
over  my  neck,  a  prong  on  either  side.      Fortunately  my 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  551 

neck  is  very  thin  as  you  perhaps  noticed  last  evening 
and  the  fork  was  a  Avide,  two-pronged  concern  it  seems 
and  I  escaped.  But,  Jerusalem  !  my  hair  stood  out  so 
straight  from  my  head  that  I  was  afraid  it  would  move 
the  straw  and  betray  me,  and  I  shan't  be  one  bit  sur- 
prised to  find  it  all  turned  white  when  I  get  to  the  light. 
Let's  get  —  sh  —  !     What  the  deuce  was  that  ?  " 

A  sound  of  suppressed  laughter  and  of  shuffling  feet 
had  caused  them  both  to  start.  Waif  elf  enger  di'ew  his 
pistol  and  stood  ready  to  use  it. 

"  Halloo  !  "  he  softly  called. 

"  Halloo  !  don't  shoot,"  was  the  response  in  a  muffled 
coffin-like  voice. 

"  If  that  there  isn't  Sharp  Billy,  my  name  isn't  R.  D.", 
exclaimed  Hartnagel  in  surprise.  "  Schmnerhannes  will 
certainly  get  that  boy  yet,  or  else  his  mam's  master.'" 

"But  who's  Sharp  Billy?"  inquired  Waffelfenger 
somewhat  anxiously. 

"  The  smartest  boy  in  Berks  county,  H.  O.,  and  true 
to  the  cause.  —  Where  are  you,  you  Deihenker  you  ?  " 
The  platform  on  which  Huber  had  sat,  and  which  was 
about  a  foot  high,  was  open  at  one  end,  and  Sharp  Billy 
crept  out  from  under  it. 

"  H.  O.,  here's  a  lad  who'll  some  day  beat  you  all  to 
nothing,  if  he  follows  your  profession,  clean  down,"  said 
Hartnagel, — "  You  young  scamp,"  he  contmued,  address- 
sing  Billy,  "  didn't  I  tell  you  strictly  to  keep  away  this 
time  ?  " 

"  Why  didn't  you  then  tell  me  to  get  out  when  I  was 


552  EKEMIES   IN   THE   REAR; 

getting  under  the  box  ?  "  said  Billy  as  if  much  offended. 
"  You  was  behmd  the  wmd-mill  then  already." 

"  I  thought  it  was  one  of  the  secessionists  commg  m," 
answered  Hartnagel. 

"  I  had  hardly  got  my  last  foot  pulled  under  the  box 
when  Pete  and  Andy  came  in  Avitli  a  lantern,  and  there 
was  an  auger  hole  m  one  of  the  boards  of  the  platform 
and  when  Huber  shuffled  around  I  was  awful  afraid  one 
of  the  legs  of  his  chair  would  get  in  the  hole  and  he'd 
tumble  down  and  they'd  move  the  whole  thmg  and  catch 
me ! " 

"  Would  have  served  you  right,"  said  Waffelfenger 
brusquely ;  "  but  I  want  to  get  a  look  at  a  boy  with  your 
courage.  So  let's  get  out  of  here,  for  it's  darker  than 
Tophet  and  we  daren't  strike  a  match." 

Hartnagel  led  the  way  to  the  back  door  of  the  barn. 
Here  they  waited  and  listened  a  few  moments  and  then 
went  to  Frederick  Ruthvon's  house.  Captain  Ruthvon 
was  anxiously  awaitmg  their  return.  Waffelfenger  and 
Hartnagel  had  both  insisted  that  Sharp  Billy,  as  their 
companion  in  the  adventures  of  the  evening,  must  ac- 
company them  and  get  warmed  up. 

"  I  want  to  see  this  lad  more  closely,"  said  Waffel- 
fenger.    "  He's  got  remarkable  nerve." 

"  Billy,"  said  Captain  Ruthvon,  "  this  is  Mr.  Leonine — 
Bradley  Leonme  —  of  whom  you  have  often  heard.  He 
is  Uncle  Sam's  boy  and  is  just  now  hunting  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Circle  in  this  part  of  the  country.  We  can 
trust  a  boy  like  you  so  far." 


OR,    A   GOLDEN"   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  553 

"How  are  you,  Billy? "said  Leonine  —  as  he  must 
now  be  called  —  shaking  hands  heartily  with  the  boy. 
"  You  knew  all  but  my  name  anyhow  just  as  well  as 
Hartnagel  there,  and  we  can  trust  you,  Billy."  Sharp 
Billy's  ready  wit  forsook  him  in  the  presence  of  the 
famous  detective  of  whose  prowess  he  had  heard  so 
much.  For  the  moment  he  could  only  faintly  smile  and 
gaze  in  admiration. 

"  Now,  Billy,  let  me  tell  you  one  thing  in  the  days  of 
your  youth,"  Leonine  Avent  on  as  he  seated  liimseK. 
*'  Never  forget  it :  to  make  a  good  soldier  or  detective 
you  must  learn  to  obey  orders  to  a  dot.  Next  time 
when  Hartnagel  tells  you  what  not  to  do  don't  you  do 
it,  BiUy." 

"  Lean  on  that !  "  was  Billy's  emphatic  reply. 

"  Now,  captain,  things  have  turned  out  jDretty  satis- 
factory," said  the  detective,  "and  you  must  give  me  a 
hoist  toward  Reading  to-night  yet,  —  yes,  yes,  it  must 
be  done  !  "  exclaimed  he  in  his  sharp,  decisive  way  when 
Charles  began  to  urge  him  to  remain  until  morning. 

"  I'll  take  him,"  said  Sharp  Billy  eagerly. 

"  You're  the  boy !  you  can  beat  Jehu  driving  any  day, 
I'll  bet,"  said  Leonine,  and  after  a  half  hour's  private 
conference  with  Captain  Ruthvon  he  drove  away  with 
Sharp  Billy.  The  rain  continued  to  fall,  but  he  made 
his  way  to  the  city  on  foot  Avith  a  happy  heart  after  the 
lad  had  carried  him  a  little  over  half  the  distance. 

Sharp  Billy  was  prouder  of  the  honor  of  carrying 
Bradley  Leonine  part  way  home  than  any  subject  ever 


554  ENEMIES   IN   THE    REAR. 

was  of  a  decoration  bestowed  on  him  by  his  sovereign. 

"  Tom,  he  knows  much,  that  there  one  does,"  said  he 
to  Hartnagel  afterwards.  "  I  believe  snre  that  he 
knows  haK  as  much  as  my  mam  herseK.  Why,  he  talked 
about  Baltimore  and  Phildelphy  and  even  New  York 
just  as  me  and  you  would  about  Womelsdorf  or  Frisbie 
or  Sclmarraffelsschteddel,  and  when  he  spoke  to  me 
about  keeping  secrets  his  eyes  shone  in  the  dark  like  our 
Gewitter's.  My  !  I  wouldn't  say  anything  of  what  hap- 
pened in  the  barn  to  anybody  except  my  mam  for  the 
nicest  house  in  Haltfest ;  "  and  next  day  when  he  got 
home  footsore  and  weary  he  said  in  impressive  tones  to 
his  foster-mother :  "  If  that  one  ever  sets  up  in  fortune- 
telling,  mam,  I'm  afraid  he'll  take  all  your  custom  away." 

"  All  right,  my  Billy,"  she  responded  rather  sadly  as 
she  stroked  his  hair  ;  "  by  that  time  my  own  fortune  will 
have  been  told,  I  think,  and  you  will  lay  me  down  by 
my  father.  Now  go  and  sleep  awhile,  Billy,  and  may 
you  have  a  softer  pillow  and  sweeter  dreams  than  your 
old  mam  !  " 

As  he  ascended  the  rickety  stairs  to  his  little  kammer 
he  began  to  whistle  "  I  won't  go  home  till  morning,"  but 
almost  instantly  checked  himseK,  wondering  what  his 
mam  could  mean. 


CHAPTER  XLVL 

THE  SQUAEIN^G  OF  THE  CIRCLE  BEGESTS. 

On  account  of  tlie  heavily  falling  rain  Philip  Huber 
concluded  to  remain  at  Prantman's  house  until  the  next 
morning.  The  breakfast  of  which  he  partook  after  his 
arduous  labors  was  rather  scanty,  for  whatever  aptitude 
Hans'  wife  and  daughter  may  have  possessed  originally 
in  matters  culinary  had  been  sadly  dwarfed  by  the  penu- 
riousness  of  the  head  of  the  family.  Soon  after  the  meal 
was  over  the  chief  Kniglit  started  on  his  way  to  Readmg, 
going  by  Frisbie.  Meanwhile  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  6th  Pa.  cavalry  mentioned  by  Susie  Zwei- 
springer  in  her  conversation  with  Blanche  C'hetwynde 
heard  of  Huber's  speech  in  the  orchard  and  were  exceed- 
ingly indignant.  They  had  been  made  aware  also  that 
he  was  organizing  lodges  of  men  bitterly  hostile  to  the 
cause  they  represented. 

On  Sunday  morning  five  or  six  of  these  soldiers  got 
together  and  concluded  to  ride  out  in  the  direction  of 
Hans  Prantman's  place,  and  if  they  came  across  Huber, 
give  him  a  lesson  that  he  would  not  be  likely  to  forget 
before  the  day  of  his  death.  Stopping  at  Baltzer's  they 
called  for  drinks  and  inquired  Avhether  Mr.  Huber  was 
there.  The  landlord  looked  moodily  at  them  but  never- 
theless answered  them  as  civilly  as  was  possible  for  him, 


556  ENEMIES    IN   THE   REAR  ; 

liis  task  being  made  somewhat  easier  by  tlie  fact  that 
they  ordered  and  paid  for  second  glasses  of  liquor.  Not 
finding  the  object  of  their  search  here,  they  left  the 
hotel  and  galloped  off  toward  the  south.  On  the  way 
they  met  Doctor  Heifer  and  Davy  Rauhzahn.  One  of 
the  cavalry-men  knew  the  doctor  well. 

"  Why,  holloa,  doctor,  by  gripes,  is  that  there  you  ?  " 
he  exclaimed,  riding  close  up  to  the  doctor's  buggy  and 
shaking  hands.  "  I  haven't  seen  you  since  you  left  old 
Lancaster." 

"  Ho  !  Knuddelbach,  is  that  you  ?  How  goes  it  ?  Glad 
to  see  you  in  that  suit,  by  the  great  Eulenspiegel !  "  was 
the  doctor's  emphatic  greeting. 

"  I'm  bully,  doctor  !  But,  say  !  do  you  want  a  case  of 
broken  bones?  " 

"How  so?" 

"  If  you  do,  just  tell  us  boys  where  to  find  Philip 
Huber,  by  Judas." 

"  Huber !  I'm  afraid  the  rebel  has  given  you  the  slip 
this  time,  for  I  met  him  about  an  hour  ago,  just  as  I  left 
Frisbie,  and  I've  been  in  two  houses  since.  He  may 
stop  at  Schauffler's  tavern  awhile  though." 

"  That's  dumbness  noAV  once,"  said  Knuddelbach. 
"  Boys,  if  we'd  stayed  at  Frisbie,  he'd  walked  right  into 
our  hands.  —  Good-bye,  doctor.  We'll  see  you  after  we 
finish  up  the  rebels,"  and  off  they  went  at  break-neck 
speed  in  the  direction  of  Frisbie.  At  every  house  they 
passed  dogs  barked  and  people  came  out  and  looked 
after  them  in  wonder.     When  they  reached  Schauffler's 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  557 

tliey  learned  to  tlieir  deep  disappointment  that  Huber 
had  left  there  nearly  an  hour  before.  The  bartender 
said  that  a  young  fellow  had  come  to  the  hotel  on  horse- 
back and  whispered  something  m  Ruber's  ear,  and  that 
Huber  thereupon  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  rapidly 
toward  Eeading. 

"  Where  is  the  man  who  spoke  to  Huber  ? "  asked 
Knuddelbach. 

"  He  said  he  was  going  to  Schnarraffelsschteddel  when 
he  left." 

'•  Did  you  know  him  !  " 

"  No,  but  I've  seen  him.  He  was  a  big  young 
fellow." 

It  was  Andrew  Pfannkuchen.  During  the  morning 
he  came  over  from  Prantman's,  where  he  now  lived,  to 
loaf  awhile  at  "  The  People's  Hotel."  When  he  heard 
the  soldiers  ask  Dan  Baltzer  about  Huber  he  instantly 
surmised  their  errand.  If  he  could  defeat  them,  he 
would  have  some  satisfaction  for  past  injuries  at  any 
rate  and  probably  be  rewarded  richly  if  the  Knights 
prevailed.  While  the  men  were  drinking  he  quietly 
slipped  out  of  the  room  and  hurried  to  the  lower  tavern. 
There  he  hired  a  horse  and  rode  by  the  nearest  way  to 
Frisbie,  arriving  as  we  have  seen  in  good  time  to  give 
his  chief  warning  of  the  presence  of  enemies. 

It  was  well  both  for  Huber  and  the  soldiers  that  the 
former  escaped  their  hands,  for  it  is  more  than  likely 
that  if  the  Apostle  of  Golden  Circleism  had  fallen  into 
the  power  of  the  exasperated  men,  his  career  would  have 


558  EISTEMEES    IN   THE   KEAR  ; 

ended  even  more  abruptly  than  it  finally  did.  But  the 
toils  were  around  him  and  he  could  not  escape.  He 
was,  as  he  had  informed  the  Copton  lodge,  engaged 
in  a  foundry  in  the  city  of  Reading.  Thus  he  lulled 
suspicion  and  still  had  time  enough  left  to  gather  use- 
ful information  and  attend  to  all  the  numerous  duties 
devolving  upon  hun  as  the  head  of  the  Southeastern 
Pennsylvania  branch  of  the  "  Sons  of  Liberty."  By 
Friday,  April  3rd,  less  than  two  weeks  subsequent  to  the 
meeting  in  Prantman's  barn,  the  agents  of  the  govern- 
ment had  all  their  plans  perfected,  and  the  great  arm 
that  so  long  had  been  surely  and  steadily  coming  closer 
to  him  suddenly  fell  upon  the  devoted  Knight. 

On  the  morning  of  that  day  Philip  Huber  was 
employed  in  superintending  some  work  in  the  foundry 
yard.  Presently  Bradley  Leonine,  looking  pleasant  as 
a  great  sunflower,  came  through  the  large  gate  into  the 
yard  and  walked  briskly  up  to  him. 

"  How-de-do,  Mr,  Huber,"  said  Leonine,  extending  his 
hand. 

"  Good  morning,"  responded  Huber  taking  the  prof- 
f erred  member  reluctantly.  "•  You  have  the  advantage 
of  me  and  my  hand  is  rather  dirty." 

"  Oh,  a  man  who  has  plowed  all  his  life  isn't  afraid  of 
a  little  dirt,  you  know,"  said  the  detective  smiling 
archly. 

"  I  remember  you  now,"  replied  Huber  looking  sharply 
at  Leonine.  "  I  met  you  in  Hans  Prantman's  orchard 
out  in  Copton,   though  you  were  not  dressed  quite  as 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  559 

you  are  now.      You  said  your  name  Avas   Waffelfenger 
and  spoke  good  words  for  the  cause." 

"  Certainly  I  did,  always  do  and  will  now,"  said 
Leonine  in  his  quick  way,  beckonmg  Huber  aside  and 
pulling  a  paper  from  his  coat  pocket. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  asked  the  Knight  in  evident 
alarm. 

"■  Mr.  Huber,  my  name  to-day  is  Bradley  Leonine, 
and  I  " 

"  Bradley  Leonine  the  detective  !  "  exclaimed  Huber, 
his  floridity  changing  to  a  sickly  pallor.  "•  I  have  heard 
more  than  enough  of  you  —  the  man  who  has  whipped 
every  man  of  all  the  hundreds  he's  fought  with  and 
arrested  ! " 

"■  Well,  I  think  111  have  to  aclaiowledge  the  oats," 
said  Leonine  with  a  modest  smile.  "But  now,  Mr. 
Huber,  you  and  I  are  friends  and  won't  quarrel.  I'm 
an  officer  in  the  United  States  service  under  the  Act  of 
March  3rd,  and  have  here  a  warrant  for  your  arrest  on 
the  charges  therein  set  forth." 

"  Why  that  can't  be  ;  you  heard  me  speak  in  the 
orchard  and  I  said  nothing  treasonable,"  said  Huber,  all 
his  courage  oozino;  out. 

"You  forget  the  evening  meeting,"  said  Leonine  pro- 
ceeding to  read  his  warrant.  The  unhappy  Knight 
seemed  ready  to  faint. 

"No  one  knows  anything"  —  he  began  and  then 
stopped. 

"  I  advise  you  not  to  talk,    Huber.     Of  course  you 


560  ENEMIES    IN    THE    EEAR  ; 

"will  go  with  me  peaceably,"  said  Leonine.  Huber  cast 
a  glance  around  him  as  tliougli  contemplating  a  dash  for 
freedom,  but  if  he  had  such  a  thought  he  relinquished  it 
instantly  and  submitted  to  his  fate  as  gracefully  as  he 
could.  Without  speaking  to  any  one  he  walked  away 
with  the  officer. 

"  Freedom  is  dead  now,"  said  he  to  Leonine  on  the 
way  down  North  Sixth  Street. 

"  Oh,  no,  not  that  bad,  Huber,"  replied  the  detective. 
"  She  certainly  is  said  to  have  shrieked  powerful 
when  Kosciusko  fell,  although  I  wasn't  there  and  can't 
say  for  sure  just  how  that  was  ;  but  in  the  present  case 
I  don't  believe  she'll  even  shed  a  tear.  To  tell  the  truth 
I  saw  her  wink  at  me  as  we  were  leaving  the  foundry." 

Leonine  delivered  his  prisoner  into  the  custody  of 
his  chief.  His  work  for  that  day  was  however  by 
no  means  yet  ended.  In  the  afternoon  he  and  two 
deputies  were  seen  driving  out  into  Copton  township 
and  making  their  way  to  the  house  of  Hans  Prantman. 

"I  think  there's  our  man  plowing  oats  ground,"  said 
Leonine  to  his  men,  j^ointing  with  his  whip  toward 
Pete  Prantman  who  was  following  the  plow  in  the  field 
adjoining  the  road. 

"  That's  him,"  said  our  old  friend  Elijah  Belsnickel. 
"  I  know  him,  and  his  sister  too."  Leaving  Belsnickel 
in  the  wagon.  Leonine  and  the  remaining  deputy 
approached  Pete.  The  latter  did  not  see  the  officers 
until  they  were  close  uj)on  him.  When  at  last  he 
discovered  them  he  turned  a  dirty  ash  color,  for  by  a 


.OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  561 

sort  of  instinct  acquired  by  the  mishaps  of  the  past  two 
years,  he  divined  that  the  presence  of  these  strangers 
boded  him  no  good.  He  recollected  Leonine  as  having 
been  present  in  the  orchard  two  weeks  before,  in  spite 
of  the  change  in  the  officer's  raiment. 

"  How  are  you,  Peter,"  said  Leonine  pleasantly,  offer- 
ing his  hand. 

"  Huh  ?  "  grunted  Pete  staring  hard  but  making  no 
motion  to  shake  hands. 

"Your  name  is  Peter  Prantman,  son  of  Hans  Prant- 
man,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"  That's  so,  clean  down,  but  my  pap  isn't  home.  He 
went  to  Haltfest  to  get  the  Eagle" 

"  I  have  here  an  invitation  for  you  to  go  with  me  to 
Reading,  Peter,"  said  Leonine  blandly. 

"  Huh  ?  I  must  plow  this  here  oats  ground  and  too  I 
must  go  to-night  to  Katrina  Galsch's  house  about  some- 
thing.—  Whoa  !     Haw  !    Lincohi  I    you  black  " 

"Hold  on,  Peter,  she'll  wait  for  you,"  said  Leonine, 
telling  his  companion  to  stop  the  horses.  "  Your  country 
calls  you  now  and  her  call  you  must  heed.  You  no 
doubt  remember  reading  in  your  Fourth  Reader  about 
the  brave  General  Putnam  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
how  when  he  heard  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  he  left 
his  plow  in  the  unfinished  furrow  and  went  to  his 
country's  help.  And  so  you  will  have  to  follow  his 
example  and  come  with  me."  He  then  explained  his 
errand  to  Pete  and  showed  his  warrant.  The  fellow 
nearly  sank  to  the  ground  while   the  officer  read    the 


562  EISTEMIES    IN   THE    BEAR;  , 

latter  and  at  the  close  burst  into  tears.  The  officers 
accompanied  him  to  the  house  and  gave  him  an  oppor- 
tunity to  change  his  clothes.  When  Margaret  Prant- 
man  learned  what  business  the  men  were  on  she  flew  at 
Leonine  like  a  lioness  and  came  veiy  near  vanquishing 
the  hitherto  unconquered  detective,  her  finger-nails  leav- 
ing marks  on  his  aquiline  nose  that  lasted  for  many- 
days.  Not  until  he  threatened  to  arrest  her  for  resist- 
ing a  United  States  officer  did  she  desist.  She  gave 
her  tongue  free  play,  however,  and  Leonine  declares 
tliat  he  never  met  her  equal  in  the  use  of  Schimpfworte. 

About  the  same  hours  of  this  same  day  other  officers 
arrested  Doctor  Isenhagen  of  Knocksdehudel  township, 
Benneville  Brechtbill  of  the  township  of  Rattleton,  and 
two  others  whose  names  are  not  remembered  at  this  late 
day, —  all  prominent  members  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Circle. 

Early  next  morning  Philip  Huber  in  company 
with  his  fellow  prisoners  was  on  his  way  to  the  city  of 
Philadelphia  and,  though  raised  so  near  the  line,  Pete 
Prantman  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  crossed  the  borders 
of  his  native  county.  The  accused  were  to  have  a 
hearing  before  the  United  States  Commissioner  in  Phila- 
delphia and  before  leaving  Reading  they  employed  legal 
advisers  to  accompany  them  and  defend  them  at  the 
hearing. 

Philip  Huber  was  much  cast  down.  To  say  nothing 
of  the  vanishing  hope  of  future  gains  from  initiates  into 
the  Golden  Circle  and  the  prospect  of  paymg  his  counsel 


OE,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQIJAEED.  563 

a  large  part  of  his  past  profits  to  defend  him  against  the 
tyrant  into  whose  power  he  had  at  last  fallen,  freedom 
was  shrieking  in  the  townships  of  Copton,  Rattleton  and 
Knocksdehudel,  and,  with  Fort  Delaware  looming  up 
darkly  before  him,  the  chance  of  soon  flying  to  her 
relief  seemed  poor  indeed. 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

THE   FAMOUS   MARCH    OF    THE    COPTON   BRIGADE. 

"  The  King  of  France  went  up  the  hill 
With  twenty  thousand  men." 

"  They  are  gone  and  nobody  knows  where  to,"  said 
Mike  Hahn  in  doleful  stram  at  "  The  People's  Hotel," 
late  in  the  evening  of  that  eventful  Friday.  "  Hans 
Prantman  wasn't  home  when  Pete  was  arrested.  I 
went  with  him  to  Frisbie  and  then  back  and  across  to 
Schnarraffelsschteddel,  but  we  couldn't  get  any  informa- 
tion. Huber  and  Pete  both  gone !  Thou  beloved 
ground !  Who'll  be  next  ?  And  Pete  didn't  do  more 
than  some  of  the  rest." 

"  I  think  he  talked  out  too  much  a  little,"  said  Chris- 
topher Stettler.  The  next  day  the  news  of  all  the 
arrests  became  generally  known  and  a  cry  of  indignation 
was  heard.  It  was  not  confined  to  the  Knights.  Many 
not  connected  with  them  joined  in  it.  Party  feeling 
had  run  very  high  for  more  than  a  month  and  now  it 
became  more  bitter  than  ever.  The  epithets  "  black- 
snake  "  and  "  copperhead "  were  used  freely  between 
partisans  and  it  was  all  the  cooler  heads  on  both  sides 
could  do  to  prevent  outbreaks  of  violence. 

Frederick  Ruthvon  and  Jabez  Chetwynde  and  their 
families  —  except  of  course  Captain  Ruthvon  and  Clinton 
Chetwynde  —  kept  close  at  home  and  at  night  the  out- 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  565 

buildings  were  watched.  Against  the  two  exceptions 
named,  together  with  Tom  and  Lovina  Hartnagel,  feel- 
ing ran  highest,  for  it  was  naturally  beheved  that  they 
were  the  agents  through  whom  the  arrests  were  brought 
about.  Tom  —  who  was  now  generally  known  as  the 
"  cow-milker "  because  he  did  the  milking  at  Chet- 
A\'^mde's  —  went  home  to  defend  his  sister  and  the 
family  should  it  become  necessary.  Clinton  returned  to 
the  city  on  Saturday  and  Captain  Ruthvon  attended  to 
the  mails.  On  Saturday  evening  he  was  obliged  to 
draw  his  pistol  on  four  men  who  set  upon  him  as  he 
came  out  of  Fettig's  grocery. 

That  evening  the  Copton  lodge  of  Knights  held  a  ses- 
sion in  Mehlhuber's  mill.  The  meeting  appointed  for 
the  previous  Saturday  night  had  not  been  held,  or  if  so, 
little  was  done,  for  Huber  was  absent,  not  daring  to 
venture  back  so  soon  after  the  chase  the  boys. of  the  6th 
Pa.  cavalry  had  given  him.  The  lodge  to-night  was 
largely  attended.  The  leading  spirits  were  Hans  Prant- 
man  and  Mike  Hahn.  Even  Christian  Mehlhuber  was 
much  excited.  He  fully  believed  that  what  he  had 
heard  about  the  tolls  was  true  and  that  unless  something 
awful  —  he  had  not  the  least  idea  what — -was  immedi- 
ately done,  the  toll-gatherer  would  make  his  appear- 
ance. 

The  Golden  Circle  was  facing  a  great  crisis.  Because 
Huber  and  the  rest  were  not  rescued  from  the  hands  of  the 
government,  the  whole  order  in  Pennsylvania  was  ruined 
and  liberty  was  dead.     Could  this  be  done  by  force  ? 


566  ENEMIES    IN   THE   llEAll  ; 

Just  now  it  was  impossible.  But  might  not  a  slioiv  of 
force  effect  their  purpose.  Huber  had  spoken  much  of 
that.  Their  leader  was  imprisoned  at  Reading  no  doubt, 
held  by  the  city  authorities.  The  latter  would  pi-obably 
be  overawed  by  a  strong  demonstration  and  without  the 
striking  of  a  single  blow  their  chief  and  fellow-members 
could  be  set  at  liberty.  The  idea  was  no  sooner  broached 
than  it  received  unanimous  approval.  It  was  voted  that 
on  Tuesday  forenoon  of  the  following  week  the  demon- 
stration should  be  made. 

Should  they  go  armed?  Andrew  Pfannkuchen  and 
several  others  were  in  favor  of  going  heavily  armed 
but  this  was  deemed  unwise.  It  was  agreed  however, 
that  whoever  wished  to  do  so  might  carry  concealed  weap- 
ons. In  the  hands  of  strong  men  like  themselves  good 
stout  clubs  would  probably  answer  every  purpose. 
Pfannkuchen  concurred  in  this  decision  with  poor  grace. 
He  said  no  execution  coidd  be  done  with  clubs. 

Who  was  to  be  the  leader  of  the  expedition,  and  who 
should  present  the  demand  of  the  people  to  the  Mayor 
of  Reading  for  the  release  of  the  prisoners?  Hans 
Prantman  was  at  once  mentioned,  but  he  was  chary  of 
jeopardizing  his  person  and  property  even  for  his  son's 
sake,  and  objected  strenuously.  But  it  was  urged  that 
as  the  father  of  one  of  the  arrested  men  and  one  of  the 
oldest  members  of  the  lodge,  he  was  the  most  fitting 
person  to  lead.  Thus  pressed,  and  reflecting  that  if  they 
were  successful  he  would  likely  be  in  a  favorable  posi- 
tion to  extort  a  good  round  sum  from  Philip  Huber  for 


OE,    A   GOLDEK   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  567 

defraying  expenses  in  Pete's  case,  lie  finally  consented  to 
march  at  the  head  of  the  column  and  to  act  as  spokes- 
man when  the  proper  time  came. 

Who  was  to  go  ?  Should  only  members  of  the 
Circle  be  invited  ? 

"  That  would  never  do,  by  Schinner,"  said  Mike 
Hahn.  ''  People  would  think  that  Knights  only  was 
interested.  Let  everybody  be  invited  to  join.  We 
want  a  big  crowd  to  go  and  it'll  make  more  impression 
if  the  Mayor  thinks  it's  a  popular  movement." 

"  But  if  we  are  so  public,"  said  Prantman,  senior, 
"  the  news  of  our  coming  will  get  to  Reading  ahead  of 
us  and  the  Lincohi  soldiers  won't  let  us  come  in  at  all." 
To  this  the  answer  was  that  if  they  were  armed  with 
clubs  only,  no  one  could  legally  prevent  them  from 
entering  the  city.  So  it  was  voted  that  a  public  meet- 
ing be  held  on  Monday  night  at  "  The  People's  Hotel." 
They  could  easily  manage  that  its  proceedings  should 
be  but  an  echo  of  their  own.  How  could  the  meeting 
be  made  known  ?  Some  one  suo-o-ested  that  Mr.  Dox 
might  be  asked  to  do  this  from  his  pulpit  next  morning. 

"  He  won't  do  it,"  said  Prantman.  "  By  my  sex,  I 
-^ash  Heimer  Avas  our  preacher.  He'd  announce  it 
bad." 

"  If  we  all  go  up  in  time,  we  can  tell  a  great  many 
people  at  church,"  said  Vorsteher  Fettig.  This  was 
done  and  on  Monday  night  Baltzer's  tavern  and  the  hall 
above  the  bar-room  were  thronged  with  ^jeople  from  near 
and  far.     The  meeting  was  manipulated  by  members  of 


568  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR  ; 

Copton  lodge  and  everything  shaped  itself  as  anticipated. 
The  enthusiasm  was  unbounded.  Lincohi  and  his  hire- 
lings would  be  taught  a  lesson. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  April  7th,  1863,  the  clans 
gathered  in  the  broad  road  in  front  of  "  The  People's 
Hotel  "in  Haltfest.  The  expectation  had  been  enter- 
tained that  a  thousand  men  would  be  in  line  when 
Prantman  should  give  the  command  to  move.  Hence 
there  was  great  disappointment  when  on  counting  it 
was  found  that  only  about  three  hundred  persons  had 
gathered  who  were  willing  to  follow  him  to  the  rescue 
of  the  imprisoned  Knights.  No  doubt,  however,  many 
would  yet  fall  in  line  at  different  points  on  the  way. 

They  were  a  motley  crowd.  Nearly  all  were  farmers 
and  the  majority  were  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle. 
Some  had  donned  their  straw  hats  already.  Here  and 
there  a  "-  Sunday  "  hat  might  be  seen.  One  young  fel- 
low by  the  name  of  Donnerwolk  who  was  inclined  to  be 
'"dudish"  actually  had  on  a  "high,"  or  "stove  pipe," 
hat,  but  most  wore  their  every-day  slouch  hats.  There 
were  coats  long  and  coats  short,  coats  brown  and  coats 
blue.  Cowhide  boots  garnished  the  feet  of  a  multitude 
of  the  "  Brigade  "  and  in  nearly  every  case  the  trousers 
were  tucked  into  the  boot-tops.  Each  man  bore  in  his 
right  hand  a  stout  hickory  club.  Andrew  Pfannkuchen 
slyly  exhibited  to  Mike  Hahn  the  butt  of  a  pistol,  a  show 
of  confidence  which  the  latter  promptly  reciprocated  in 
the  same  way. 

"  I  hope  something'll  get  in  our  road,  Hartnagel  for 


OR,     A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  569 

instance,"  whispered  Andrew.  Hahn  simply  winked  in 
reply. 

The  morning  was  cloudy  and  wet  and  mud  Ava's  plenty, 
but  the  spirits  behind  Baltzer's  bar  helped  things  amaz- 
ingly. At  eight  o'clock  Hans  Prantman  took  his  place 
and  yelled  "•  Now  we  go  once  !  "  and  the  famous  march 
of  the  "  Copton  Brigade  "  began. 

When  the  procession  passed  Doctor  Heifer's  office  a 
volley  of  hisses  and  cries  of  "■  Boo  !  "  arose  from  the  ranks. 
Schnapps,  who  was  lying  on  the  front  stoop,  was  inclined 
to  resent  this  as  an  insult  to  him  and  his  master  and 
ran  toward  the  edge  of  the  moving  column  barking. 
This  furnished  occasion  for  the  first  act  of  violence. 
Andrew  Pfannkuchen  drew  his  weapon  and  shot  the 
faithful  animal  through  the  heart,  exclaiming  as  he  did 
so  :  —  "  I'd  like  to  serve  your  Abolition  master  the  same 
way."  Shouts  of  approval  greeted  the  cowardly  act. 
Doctor  Heifer  had  deemed  it  prudent  to  remain  off  the 
street  in  view  of  the  present  mood  of  the  men  ;  but  when 
Davy  Rauhzahn,  who  stood  inside  the  office  and  saw  the 
whole  transaction,  called  to  him  in  the  back  room  that 
Pfannkuchen  had  shot  Schnapps  he  ran  forth  into  the 
street  hatless  and  called  on  the  slayer  of  his  dog  to  stop. 
But  the  rescuers  were  already  well  toward  the  lower 
end  of  the  village  and  paid  no  heed  to  his  frantic  ges- 
ticulations and  threats.  It  was  only  a  dog  that  was 
slain  but  even  that  had  to  some  extent  roused  the  tiger 
said  to  lie  dormant  in  every  human  heart,  and  the  "  Bri- 
gade" marched  on  with  firmer  tread  and  more  resolute  air. 


570  ENEMIES   IN   THE   EEAE ; 

When  they  arrived  at  Schauffler's  tavern  in  Frisbie 
a  shout  went  up  —  Hurrah  for  Ancoony  !  Hurrah  for 
Huber !  '^ —  made  full-orbed  by  two  or  three  voices 
substituting  the  name  of  Jeff  Davis  for  those  mentioned. 

"What  is  wrong?  Where  are  you  going?"  asked 
the  landlord  in  amazement  when  the  marchers  crowded 
into  his  bar-room. 

"  Huber  is  arrested  and  we're  going  to  bring  him 
home,"  said  John  Woods,  a  school-teacher  who  had 
joined  the  ranks.  After  encouraging  themselves  with 
what  Schauffler's  bar  afforded  the  host  passed  on.  But 
it  was  noticed  that  the  numbers  of  the  rescuers  were 
considerably  diminished ;  some  had  quietly  disappeared 
and  on  one  pretext  and  another  others  dropped  out  of  the 
ranks  between  Frisbie  and  the  river.  Thus  by  the  time 
the  upper,  or  Harrisburg,  bridge  —  which  spanned  the  two 
canals  and  the  Schuylkill  river  —  at  the  foot  of  Penn 
street,  Reading,  was  reached  only  about  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  men  were  in  line  and  when  they  entered 
the  west  end  of  the  covered  wooden  structure  a  large 
proportion  of  even  these  elect  ones  heartily  wished  they 
had  not  left  the  unfinished  furi'ow  to  engage  in  this 
adventure.  Only  the  thought  of  vanishing  tolls  kept 
Christian  Mehlhuber  from  dropping  out  at  this  point. 
Every  man  suddenly  realized  that  the  undertaking  was 
assuming  a  serious  phase  when,  the  head  of  the  column 
having  reached  the  middle  of  the  bridge,  behold !  there 
came  into  plain  view  at  the  eastern  end  a  cannon,  and 
pointed  right  at  them  too  ! 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  571 

In  those  days  the  home  of  the  Reading  Hook  and 
Ladder  company  was  located  on  Penn  Street  only  a  few 
rods  from  the  entrance  to  the  Harrisburs^  bridoe.  In 
the  forenoon  of  this  historic  day  a  number  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  useful  organization  sat  in  tlieir  house 
pleasantly  discussing  various  topics,  among  others  the 
probability  of  renewed  efforts  on  the  part  of  Gen.  Lee 
to  break  into  Pennsylvania.  In  the  midst  of  the  discus- 
sion a  sound  as  of  many  men  marching  at  the  far  end  of 
the  bridge  fell  on  their  ears  and,  full  of  the  subject, 
without  stopping  to  think  of  the  unlikelihood  of  such  a 
thing,  they  concluded  that  here  indeed  at  their  very 
doors  were  the  ruthless  invaders.  In  the  building  was 
an  old  piece  of  ordnance  —  a  nine-pounder  cannon  — 
that  had  come  down  from  the  Revolutionary  period  and 
was  occasionally  loaded  and  fired  on  national  festival 
days.  Resolved  that  the  daring  enemy  should  not  take 
the  beloved  city  which  they  had  so  often  helped  to 
defend  against  fire  without  some  resistance  at  least,  the 
brave  firemen  sprung  to  the  cannon,  loaded  it,  Avheeled 
it  to  the  opening  of  the  bridge  and,  pointing  it  so  as  to 
sweep  the  structure,  awaited  developments. 

"They've  stopped."  said  Ben  White,  one  of  the  Hook 
and  Ladder  lads.  "  I  don't  see  any  bayonets  and  we'd 
better  wait  until  they  come  nearer." 

Alarmed  at  seeing  the  cannon,  Hans  Prantman's 
"  Sacrament !  What's  that  there  !  Hold  on  once  a  lit- 
tle !  "  Avas  hardly  needed  to  make  his  followers  halt  very 
abruptly.     They  were  facing  a  loaded  cannon  —  some- 


572  e]o:mies  nsr  the  eear; 

thing  that  but  few  of  the  drafted  men  from  Copton 
township  had  thus  far  been  called  on  to  do.  A  hasty- 
consultation  was  held  between  Hans  Prantman  and 
some  of  the  most  prominent  men. 

"  We'd  better  go  back,  else  we'll  all  be  made  dead," 
said  an  old  farmer  wearing  No.  12  boots. 

"  Yes,  go  back,  and  all  be  drafted  to-morrow,"  re- 
sponded Andrew  Pfannkuchen  who,  having  successfully 
shot  a  dog,  was  warlike. 

"  Hold  on  once  !  "  exclaimed  Mike  Hahn.  "  We'll  fix 
their  old  cannon  all  right.  Some  of  you  get  on  the  out- 
side footway  on  the  south  side  of  the  bridge  and  some 
on  the  north  side,  and  if  they  shift  the  cannon,  you  can 
in  a  moment  slip  through  the  openings  between  the 
drive  and  the  footways." 

This  was  done  and  the  cannoniers  were  foiled  com- 
pletely. The  latter  did  not  retreat  however  but  awaited 
the  enemy  resolutely.  And  the  enemy  came.  But  they 
were  not  Southern  veterans  —  at  least  not  all  of  them, — 
for  some  of  the  "  Brigade  "  were  personally  known  to 
the  firemen  as  citizens  of  Copton  township. 

"  Boys,  I'll  stand  treat  all  around,"  said  Ben  White 
to  his  fellows  when  the  Coptonites  emerged  from  the 
bridge,  "for  I've  been  ox  enough  to  take  a  parcel  of 
Copton  farmers  for  a  regiment  of  Lee's  vets !  Look  at 
the  Buschknibbel !  *  —  Hollo,  Hahn!  What's  wrong? 
There's  no  circus  in  town  to-day  and  the  Berks  County 
fair  doesn't  begin  until  September." 

*Country-lubbers. 


OR,    A    (GOLDEN    CIECLE    SQUARED.  573 

"  Philip  Huber  lias  been  arrested  and  yet  others  too,'" 
said  Hahn,  "  and  we've  come  to  see  about  it  —  or,  well 
—  yes,  maybe." 

"  Huber  !  "  cried  the  firemen  in  chorus.  "  Why,  he 
and  all  of  them  were  sent  to  Philadelphia  Saturday 
morning  already." 

"  And  from  what  I  heard  this  morning,"  added 
White,  "  I  think  he  and  young  Prantman  have  both 
been  sl^pt  by  this  time." 

•'  Ach  Gott ! "  exclaimed  Hans  Prantman  turning 
pale  and  going  up  to  White.  '•'  Peter  is  my  son.  Are 
they  shot  sure  ?  " 

"  If  they  ain't,  they  ought  to  be,"  responded  the 
other.  "  At  any  rate  you  won't  find  them  here.  If 
they  ain't  dead,  you'll  find  them  unable  to  go  home  "svith 
you  anyhow." 

"  Go  away  once  !  "  shouted  Pfannkuchen  ;  '^  they're 
trying  to  fool  you.  Come  on  !  "  and  in  a  moment  the 
"  Brigade  "  was  in  motion  again,  going  up  Penn  Street. 
The  men  kept  no  step  or  order  but  huddled  together  like 
a  flock  of  sheep  in  fear  of  assault  from  a  dog.  To  halt 
at  the  "  Plow  and  Harrow "  hotel  on  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Penn  Streets  was  a  matter  of  instinct,  for  it 
was  headquarters  for  all  Copton  township.  It  looked  so 
friendly,  did  the  '■'■  BluTce  un  Ake."  Quickly  the  news 
spread  through  the  city  that  a  "  Brigade  "  of  Copton 
farmers  had  come  in  to  rescue  Huber,  the  great  Golden 
Circle  Knight,  and  by  the  time  the  march  was  resumed 
Penn  Street  was  crowded  "with  men,  women  and  children. 


574  ENEMIES    IN    THE   REAR; 

"  Copperheads  !  Copton  Brigade  !  Buschknibbel !  " 
shouted  the  street  Arabs. 

"  Hurrah  for  the  Ancooiiy  !  "  came  from  dozens  of 
Copton  throats  and  once  a  shout  for  Jeff  Davis  was 
heard.  Sergeant  Thompson  stood  near  the  lower  one  of 
the  two  market  sheds  which  then  graced  Penn  Square. 
Through  these  sheds  the  invaders  passed  and  the  officer 
was  recognized  by  Christian  Mehlhuber. 

"  Its  our  turn  to-day  once,"  said  the  miller  spite- 
fully. 

"  If  I  had  just  twenty-five  of  our  boys  here,  with 
orders  from  the  colonel  to  charge  you,  we'd  soon  see 
whose  turn  it  is,  you  rebels,"  retorted  Thompson. 

"Twenty-five,  sergeant?  What  would  you  want 
with  more  than  ten  ?  "  said  a  comrade  by  his  side. 

At  Sixth  Street  the  "  Brigade  "  wheeled  to  the  left  and 
made  for  the  Court  House  on  that  street  a  little  above 
Penn.  The  Mayor  of  the  city,  an  excellent  gentleman, 
having  been  apprised  of  matters,  had  hurried  to  the 
Court  House  and  when  the  Coptonites  reached  the  gate- 
way to  the  steps  he  confronted  them.  He  knew  some 
of  them  personally  and  when  they  halted  he  asked  them 
very  kindly  what  their  desire  was.  Hans  Prantman, 
hat  on  head,  stepped  forward  and  with  a  trembling  voice 
asked  him  whether  Philip  Huber,  Peter  Prantman  and 
the  other  arrested  men  were  in  the  Berks  county  prison 
or  in  the  Reading  lock-up.  The  Mayor  assured  him 
they  were  not. 

"  They  were  sent  to  Philadelphia  for  a  hearing,"  said 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  575 

he.  "  Glancy  Jones  and  other  lawyers  have  gone  with 
them  and  I've  no  doubt  they'll  get  justice." 

"  You  lie  !  "  said  Andrew  Pfannkuchen  to  the  Mayor. 

"  My  friend,  I'm  telling  you  the  simple  truth,"  an- 
swered Mayor  Hoyer.  '^  Why  should  I  wish  to  de- 
ceive you  ?  Here  is  Law;5"er  Richards,  whom  you  all 
know,  and  he'll  tell  you  the  same  thing." 

Thus  called  upon,  John  S.  Richards,  then  one  of  the 
most  eloquent  members  of  the  Reading  bar,  stepped  to 
the  front  and  assured  the  people  that  the  Mayor  had 
spoken  the  truth.  He  admonished  them  quietly  to 
return  home. 

"  Richards,  you  are  a  black  Radical,"  answered  Prant- 
man  excitedly,  "  and  I  wouldn't  believe  you  under 
oath  and  we'll  go  home  when  Ave're  ready.     Sacrament !  " 

"  Maybe  you  won't,"  replied  Richards. 

"  Now,  my  friends,  I  ask  you  as  good  citizens  to  go 
home,"  said  the  peace-loving  JNIayor.  '•'-  If  you  do  not,  I 
cannot  answer  for  the  consequences." 

The  Mayor  preceived  that  if  they  did  not  quickly  dis- 
perse, trouble  was  close  at  hand.  But  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  inertia  is  hard  to  overcome.  These  Coptonites 
had  started  out  to  rescue  Huber  and  could  not  readily 
stop.  Their  heads  were  filled  with  an  idea  and  it  could 
not  be  dispossessed.  For  Huber  they  had  come  and  to 
go  home  without  him  and  the  rest  was  not  to  be  thought 
of.  The  prisoners  were  here  and  they  must  have  them. 
So  they  consulted  together  and  then  Hans  Prantmkn 
said   to     Mayor    Hoyer :  — .  ">  We   demand  the   uncon- 


576  ENElVnES   IN   THE   REAR  ; 

ditional  surrender  of  Philip  Huber  and  all  the  other 
men  arrested  last  Saturday." 

"And  Ave  don't  want  our  tolls  took,"  added  Mehl- 
huber. 

"  But  I  haven't  got  these  men  and  hence  cannot  re- 
lease them,"  answered  the  Mayor.  "  If  you  are  bound 
to  have  them  and  will  not  believe  me.  United  States 
Commissioner  Olds  is  the  man  you  want  to  talk  to." 

But  the  invaders  were  not  convinced.  He  was  the 
Mayor,  and  surely  he  must  have  control  of  all  matters  in 
the  Stadt.  The  more  they  talked  the  more  angry  they 
grew,  and  matters  really  began  to  look  serious.  So 
did  Mayor  Hoyer,  for  the  crowd  in  the  streets  was 
every  moment  becoming  denser ;  ominous  shouts  were 
heard,  and  with  the  present  state  of  party  feeling  the 
fair  fame  of  the  city  seemed  in  danger.  However,  two 
elements  that  the  official  had  left  out  of  his  calculation 
how  to  preserve  the  peace  were  at  work  and  presently 
solved  the  knotty  problem.  One  was  United  States 
Commissioner  Olds,  the  other  the  Junior  Hose  Com- 
pany. Whilst  the  former  was  busy  preparmg  certam 
papers,  the  members  of  the  latter  were  maturing  a  plan 
to  bring  to  shame  the  men  who  had  sympathy  only  for 
the  South. 

The  Hose  Company's  house  was  on  Washington 
Street,  above  Sixth,  not  far  from  the  Court  House. 
The  captain  of  the  company  with  thirty-eight  members 
behind  him  proposed  to  run  their  hose-carriage  to  a  plug 
at   Court  and  Sixth  Streets,  on  the  very  edge  of   the 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  577 

"  Copton  Brigade."  and  tlien,  turning  the  hose  upon 
the  latter,  give  them  such  a  wetting  as  should  speedily 
cool  their  ardor  for  Philip  Huber  and  his  co-conspirators. 
The  plan  was  no  sooner  formed  than  its  execution  was 
entered  on. 

"  Steady,  boys,  off ! "  cried  the  leader,  and  at  the  top 
of  their  speed  the  brave  lads  rushed  down  Washington 
Street,  with  their  carriage.  Whirling  around  the  corner 
into  Sixth  Street,  they  bore  down  upon  the  city's  invad- 
ers, whose  attention  was  at  once  attracted  by  the  shouts 
of  the  firemen  and  the  noise  made  by  the  carriage  as  it 
bounded  over  the  stony  street.  Chi'istian  Mehlhuber's 
sluggish  imagination  was  still  occupied  Avith  the  vision 
of  the  cannon  at  the  bridge,  and  when  he  saw  the  hose- 
carriage  coming  he  was  quite  sure  it  was  the  same  awful 
engine  of  death  that  had  been  pointed  at  them  before. 

"  Dart  kommt  en  Kannoo  !  "  he  frantically  yelled. 
"  Dart  kommt  en  Kannoo  !  Ach  Got.t !  Hoi's  der  Teufel ! 
Du  liewer  Grund ! "  *  The  cry  was  taken  up  by 
the  entire  brigade,  and  in  half  a  minute  Mayor  Hoyer 
and  the  eloquent  Richards  were  left  without  an  audi- 
ence. Every  one  of  the  rescuers  had  turned  and  fled. 
Through  the  old  market-sheds  and  on  either  side,  down 
Penn  Square  they  swarmed  —  cursing,  pushing,  crowd- 
ing — -  with  the  terrible  vehicle  close  upon  them  ! 

"  Let  'em  have  it !  "  shouted  Ben  White,  Avho,  stand- 
ing on  the   pavement,   sought    by   adding   as   much   as 


*"  There  comes  a  cannon !    There  comes  a  cannon!    O  Lord!    The  devil  take  it! 
Thou  beloved  ground !  " 


578  ENEMIES   IX   THE   BEAR; 

possible  to  the  fright  of  tlie  flying  host  to  recompense 
himself  a  little  for  his  blunder  at  the  bridge,  of  which 
he  would  never  he«,r  the  last. 

"  Give  it  to  'em  !  "  yelled  the  Arabs. 

Believing  these  noises  to  be  the  prelude  to  the  roar  of 
the  cannon  whose  hurrying  ball  would  send  liaK  of  them 
into  eternity,  the  men  of  Copton  ran  as  only  they  run 
who  ai'e  escaping  from  death.  The  friendly  "  Plow  and 
Harrow  "  was  only  a  few  blocks  away.  If  they  could 
but  reach  that,  they  would  surely  be  safe. 

"'Plow  and  Harrow,'  'Plow  and  Harrow!'"  cried 
Prantman,  senior.  The  mud  flew,  and  hats  flew,  and 
clubs  flew.  Christian  Mehlhuber,  who  was  as  slow  of 
foot  as  in  his  mental  operations,  puffed  along  as  fast  as 
he  could,  but  by  the  time  he  reached  Fifth  Street  he 
was  unable  to  go  above  a  walk.  He  was  directly  in  the 
way  of  the  Junior  lads  and  in  a  twinkling  he  lay  sprawl- 
ing in  the  street,  escaping  the  wheels  of  the  carriage  by 
a  hair's  breadth.  He  gathered  himself  up  and  with  a 
bleedmg  nose  hobbled  to  the  sidewalk  near  Mishler's 
Hotel. 

"  Whose  turn  is  it  now  ?  "  called  Sergeant  Thompson 
in  a  rather  uncharitable  tone. 

"  Yours,"  replied  the  miller  laconically,  limping  ahead. 

"  Hollo,  Clmst,"  said  an  acquaintance  in  the  crowd 
jocularly.      "How  are  you?" 

"  It  must  be  good  so,"  he  responded  amid  a  shout  of 
laughter.  "  I'll  get  the  plagues,  Huber  may  go  into 
the  bushes  for  all  I  care,  and  in  my  whole  life  I'll  never 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  579 

come  to  this  here  dirty  city  again !  "  and  unhindered  he 
continued  on  his  way  down  Penn  street  wiping  his  still 
bleeding  member. 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

THE  SQUARING    OF    THE    CERCLE    COMPLETED. 

"  The  King  of  France  came  down  the  hill, 
And  ne'er  went  up  again." 

Reaching  the  "  Plow  and  Harrow,"  the  discomfited 
Coptonites  rushed  pell-mell  into  the  hostehy.  Once 
under  its  friendly  roof,  they  felt  comparatively  secure. 
The  deadly  cannon  no  longer  pointed  at  them  and  the 
pursuit  seemed  to  have  been  abandoned.  Their  courage 
revived  somewhat.  Having  regained  their  breath,  they 
began  to  patronize  the  bar  quite  freely.  After  taking 
two  or  three  scJimaler  some  of  the  braver  spirits  talked 
of  returning  to  the  Court  House  and  renewing  their 
demand  for  the  release  of  the  prisoners.  Such  dis- 
dained to  keep  within  doors :  they  must  needs  show 
their  courage  by  going  out  on  the  hotel  stoop.  Andrew 
Pfannkuchen  even  ventured  down  the  steps  to  the 
sidewalk  a  moment.  But  a  great  mob  of  angry  men, 
and  of  women  who  had  husbands  and  brothers  in  the 
army,  Avas  rapidly  gathering  around  the  hotel.  Numbers 
of  soldiers  home  on  furlough  were  in  the  throng.  These 
and  many  others  had  grown  weary  of  hearing  Jeff  Davis 
lauded,  and-  cheers  whenever  the  Union  forces  sustained 
a  reverse,  and  resolved  that  the  fair  city  which  had  sent 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  581 

out  the  first  volunteers  must  be  purged  at  least  of  the 
presence  of  outside  sympathizers  with  the  South. 

Emboldened  by  the  success  of  his  first  trip,  Pfann- 
kuchen  went  do^Yn  to  the  pavement  a  second  time. 
Flushed  by  the  liquor  he  had  drunk,  he  cried,  "  Hurrah 
for  the  Ancoony  !  Hurrah  for  Jefferson  Davis  !  "  but 
hardly  were  the  words  out  of  his  mouth  before  several 
boys  in  blue  were  upon  him.  Desperately  the  giant 
fought  but  vainly.  In  two  minutes  he  was  bruised  and 
battered  from  head  to  foot  with  fist  blows,  and  when 
allowed  to  rise  several  hearty  kicks  helped  him  on  as  he 
staggered  away  in  the  direction  of  the  Harrisburg 
bridge.  During  the  excitement  incident  to  this  assault 
Deacon  Caspar  Fettig  came  out  onto  the  stoop  and  said 
it  was  too  bad  to  beat  a  man  just  for  shouting  for 
Jefferson  Davis.  Instantly  he  was  seized  and  dragged 
down  to  the  sidewalk. 

"  Get  down  on  your  knees  and  cheer  for  Lincoln,  you 
rebel,"  said  his  captors,  "  else  we'll  treat  you  exactly  as 
we  did  that  other  Johnny."  It  was  bitter  medicine  for 
Fettig  but  there  was  no  escape.  Down  on  his  knees  on 
the  hard  bricks  went  he  and  gave  a  feeble  shout  for  the 
hated  President.  Then  he  was  permitted  to  get  up  and 
a  brace  of  kicks  sent  him  after  Pfannkuchen. 

By  this  time  Mayor  Hoyer  arrived  from  the  Court 
House.  He  at  once  ordered  the  landlord  of  the 
"  Plow  and  Harrow "  to  close  the  bar-room  and  the 
order  was  promptly  obeyed.  Matters  looked  more 
threatening   than  ever.       The  mob  had  committed   its 


582  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR; 

first  acts  of  violence  and  its  appetite  was  fast  growing. 
The  men  of  Copton  beheld  the  signs  of  increasing  danger 
and  realized  that  their  safely  lay  on  the  west  side  of  the 
bridge.  The  east  entrance  was  but  three  blocks  away. 
Getting  together  as  well  as  they  could,  they  made  a 
dash  for  that  point  followed  by  the  howling,  hooting 
crowd.  The  bridge  was  safely  reached  and,  except  a 
few  boys,  no  one  followed  them  beyond.  The  city  was 
vindicated.     That  was  enough. 

Some  of  the  "  Brigade  "  were  so  intent  however  on 
getting  out  of  danger  that  they  were  unaware  the 
pursuit  had  been  discontinued,  and  ran  as  though  the 
avenger  were  close  upon  their  heels.  Yonie  Zwiwwel- 
berg  ran  six  miles  without  a  stop.  Hailed  and  asked 
the  cause  of  his  hurry,  he  replied  puffing  and  panting, 
but  still  continuing  his  flight :  —  "  To-day  —  whew  !  — 
it  will  give  —  it's  so  hot !  —  many  —  dead  —  people  — 
whew  !  —  in  —  Reading  —  they  have  —  my  !  a  cannon 
—  on  the  —  whew  !  —  street !  " 

Heartily  frightened,  heartly  ashamed,  heartily  dis- 
gusted with  all  the  world  and  especially  with  Reading, 
was  this  band  of  men  as  it  straggled  homeward.  Once 
beyond  Frisbie  and  in  the  bounds  of  Copton  township, 
the  pace  became  slower  and  they  began  to  look  around 
them  to  see  who  was  missing.  The  miller  was  not  there, 
Andrew  Pfannkuchen  was  absent,  and  Hans  Prantman, 
Mike  Hahn  and  some  others  were  not  found.  Melilhu- 
ber  had  sought  shelter  in  a  grocery  kept  by  an  old  friend 
who    at    Christian's    earnest    request    hid    him    among 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIRCLE    SQUARED.  583 

some  boxes  and  barrels  iii  a  back  room  so  "  that  lie 
might  not  be  made  dead."  Pfannkuchen  went  across 
the  bridge  and  then  turned  to  the  left  down  the  road 
toward  the  lower,  or  Lancaster,  bridge.  He  reached  his 
mountain  home  durmg;  the  nio-ht  half  dead. 

But  where  were  Prantman  and  Hahn  ?  They  both 
di'eaded  to  make  the  dash  for  the  bridge,  much  as  boys 
shrink  from  making  the  first  plunge  into  the  water  when 
they  go  swimming  on  a  chilly  day.  They  were  just  about 
to  leave  the  hotel  though  when  Elijah  Belsnickel  accosted 
the  former. 

"  Mr.  Prantman,  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you  again  so 
soon,"  said  the  officer,  "but  I  am  a  deputy  marshal 
of  the  United  States,  and  have  here  a  warrant  for  your 
arrest." 

"  Huh  ? "  said  Prantman,  and  Belsnickel  again 
explained. 

"  Is  that  there  now  so  ?  "  said  the  ex-spokesman  of  the 
"•  Copton  Brigade,"  experiencing  sensations  never  known 
before  and  mentally  renouncing  and  forswearing  Golden 
Circleism  forevermore.  Speedily  the  news  was  borne  to 
the  stoop  and  street  that  the  leader  of  the  Coptonites 
had  been  arrested  and  was  even  now  in  the  sitting-room 
of  the  hotel.  The  next  moment  the  ominous  cry  arose 
from  hmidreds  of  throats  :  —  "  Kill  the  Huberite  ! 
Hang  the  copperhead  to  a  lamp-post !  "  Only  a  few 
policemen  were  in  sight  and  no  effort  was  made  to  dis- 
perse the  mob. 

No  wonder  that  Prantman  and  Hahn  turned  pale  as 


584  ENEMIES    nST   THE   REAR; 

death  and  that  even  the  deputy  was  much  alarmed. 
Instant  action  was  imperative. 

"•  Come  with  me,  Prantman,  and  if  you  value  your 
life,  hurry,"  said  Belsnickel. 

"  Belsnickel,  don't  let  them  make  me  dead  !  Hahn, 
stand  by  me  !  "  exclaimed  Prantman  in  beseeching  tones. 

"  We  have  over  four  squares  to  go,"  continued  the 
deputy.  "  Whatever  happens  keep  as  close  to  me  as 
you  can.  You  may  be  of  some  use  to  yoiir  neighbor, 
Hahn,  and  can  go  along,  but  you  must  look  out  for 
yourself.  We're  going  to  United  States  Commis- 
sioner Olds'  office  in  Penn  Street  above  Sixth,  but  to 
get  away  from  that  crowd  out  there  we  must  go 
around." 

Hahn  saw  in  the  beginning  that  the  presence  of  the 
officer  would  probably  afford  him  the  best  measure  of 
personal  safety  and  was  glad  to  be  permitted  to  go 
along  to  the  Commissioner's  room.  With  his  prisoner 
and  Hahn  Belsnickel  hurried  out  through  the  back 
entrance  of  the  hotel,  thence  across  the  stable  yard  — 
the  gates  of  which  fortunately  had  been  closed  when  the 
mob  began  to  assemble, —  and  through  the  stables  into 
Cherry  Alley,  now  Cherry  Street.  The  latter  was 
deserted  and  the  officer  debated  a  moment  whether  to 
go  west  to  Second  Street  and  down  to  Franklin,  or  to 
dash  across  Third  and  continue  up  Cherry  Alley  to 
Sixth.  The  latter  was  the  nearer  route  and  as  safe  as 
the  other  if  Third  Street  could  be  passed  without  dis- 
covery, and  he  resolved  to  take  it.     But  they  were  seen 


1 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  585 

before  they  reached  the  cover  of  the  alley  above  Third 
Street. 

"  Run  now  if  you  never  did  before,"  said  the  marshal 
when  he  heard  the  cry  of  the  mob.  They  had  the  start 
and  the  alley  hid  them  from  their  pursuers  a  few  mo- 
ments. This  fact  with  his  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
locality  enabled  the  officer  to  do  some  effective  turning 
and  dodging,  and  the  three  arrived  safely  at  Sixth  and 
Penn  Streets.  From  this  point  to  their  destination  the 
distance  was  less  than  half  a  block  but  the  foremost  of 
the  angry  throng  were  now  close  upon  their  heels  and 
their  safety  was  by  no  means  yet  assured.  Making  a 
supreme  effort,  the  Commissioner's  door  was  reached 
just  as  a  tall  fellow  dressed  like  a  mechanic  was  about 
to  stop  Hans  Prantman's  career  with  a  terrific  blow  of 
his  fist.  A  sharp  turn,  and,  not  a  second  too  soon,  they 
were  within  the  office. 

"  Prantman,  you  had  better  remained  at  home  to-day 
and  sown  your  oats,"  said  Commissioner  Olds  when  the 
door  was  locked  and  the  farmer  sank  exhausted  into  a 
chair.  "  It  would  have  been  more  profitable  and  less 
dangerous.  Look  at  that  crowd  out  there  and-  hear 
them  yell !  They  fill  the  street  clear  over  to  the  south 
pavement.  My !  if  they  had  got  hold  of  you  and 
Hahn." 

"  Lean  on  that,  there  would  have  been  nothing  but 
leberwurst !  "  ejaculated  Prantman  panting  for  breath, 
"  Don't  let  them  in.  I'll  give  you  my  biggest  pig  if  you 
won't.     Our  oats  is  in  but  Huber  and  all  the  Knights 


586  ENEMIES   IK   THE   REAR  ; 

except  my  Peter  may  go  into  the  bushes,  ain't  they 
may,  Hahn  ?  " 

"No,  Prantman,"  said  Olds,  "I  won't  let  them  in; 
they  might  upset  the  spit-box  if  they  got  in,  and  I  don't 
want  your  pig  for  keeping  them  out  either." 

"You  see  I  did  not  come  down  here  to" Hana 

began,  but  Olds  stopped  him. 

"  Now,  Prantman,  don't  talk  until  you  see  a  lawyer," 
he  interposed. 

"Can  I  have  a  lawyer ? "  asked  the  prisoner  very 
eagerly. 

"  Why,  certainly,  half  a  dozen  if  you  want  them." 

"  Sacrament !  I  thought  the  Lmcolnities  — •  oh,  my 
heart  hurts  me  !  — ■  would  send  me  to  the  army  right 
away.     Oh,  my  heart !  " 

"  Your  dear  friend  Huber  has  been  fooling  you  — 
Belsnickel,  are  they  dispersing  out  there  ?  —  and  telling 
you  lies.  I  only  wonder  that  sensible  men  like  you, 
who  know  how  to  make  money  and  to  keep  it  too, 
should  allow  themselves  to  be  deceived  by  such  a  shal- 
low rascal  as  that  Huber,"  said  the  Commissioner. 

"  Huber  got  two  dollars  out  of  me  and  I  subscribed 
three  dol " Prantman  started  again. 

"  Now  wait,"  said  the  official.  "  You'll  have  a  chance 
to  tell  all  that  later.  Whom  do  you  want  as  your 
lawyer  ?  " 

"  I  want  the  Ancoony ;  he  knows  more  than  all  the 
rest  except  Heimer,"  answered  Prantman. 

"  Oh,  Ancona  can't  come,  he's  a  Congressman,  and 


OR,     A   GOLDEN"   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  587 

besides  he  isn't  in  tlie  city  now.  He'll  be  far  enough 
away  when  his  friends  are  in  trouble." 

"  Send  for  Glancy  Jones  then.  He  knows  bad  much 
too."  Accordingly  Glancy  Jones,  who  had  returned 
from  Philadelphia,  was  notified  and  in  due  time  pre- 
sented himself,  being  however  heartily  hissed  by  the 
crowd  that  still  lingered  before  the  Commissioner's 
door. 

"Mr.  Jones,"  said  the  Commissioner,  "-I  don't  think 
it  will  be  necessary  to  send  Prantman  to  Philadelphia, 
but  I'm  obliged  to  put  him  under  heavy  bonds  so  as  to 
keep  him  from*  injuring  himself  and  others  by  talking 
treason.  Belsnickel  there  is  nearly  dead  now  running 
him  off  fi-om  the  mob." 

"  Yes,  and  my  heart  hurts  so  and  my  mouth  I'll  hold 
and  Huber  may  go  to  the  devil,"  said  Prantman  very 
emphatically.  Olds  could  not  help  laughmg  at  the 
earnestness  with  which  his  prisoner  abjured  Philip 
Huber." 

"  I  think  you  are  cured  of  Huberism,"  said  he,  "  but  I 
must  have  some  assurance  that  you  will  hereafter  keep 
quiet." 

"  How  much  bail  do  you  want  ?  "  inquired  Prantman's 
lawyer. 

"  Ten  thousand  dollars,"  answered  Olds. 

"  That  is  excessive,"  said  the  attorney  in  surprise. 

"  It  will  probably  be  less  trouble  to  find  bondsmen  in 
that  amount  than  to  stand  trial  at  court,"  answered  the 
Commissioner   somewhat   curtly.       Jones   noticed    the 


588  EKEIVIIES   IK   THE  EEAR ; 

latter's  determined  maimer  and  after  a  brief  consultation 
with  his  client  informed  Olds  they  would  try  to  secure 
the  required  surety.  Hahu  was  ready  to  become  one  of 
Prantman's  bondsmen  and  next  day  two  more  were 
found.  Prantman  was  then  permitted  to  return  home 
to  Copton  after  having  spent  a  restless  night  at  the 
"  Plow  and  Harrow "  under  the  surveillance  of  lynx- 
eyed  Bradley  Leonine. 

For  three  months  the  seats  of  Vorsteher  Prantman 
and  Fettig  in  the  old  church  were  empty,  and  for  many 
days  "  The  Peoj)le's  Hotel "  knew  not  the  more  promi- 
nent members  of  the  "  Copton  Brigade."  They  were 
ashamed  to  show  themselves  even  to  such  as  sympathized 
with  them  in  the  object  of  their  historic  march,  and 
when  at  last  they  ventured  forth  again  they  were  obliged 
to  put  up  with  much  chaffing  and  joking.  But  they 
had  learned  meekness  and  bore  it  all  with  quiet  resigna- 
tion. Doctor  Heifer,  Tom  Hartnagel  and  the  rest,  were 
very  considerate  and  seldom  referred  to  the  misfortunes 
of  the  "  Brigade  "  in  the  hearing  of  any  one  whom  they 
knew  to  have  participated  in  its  disastrous  campaign. 
Heifer  was  indeed  extremely  angry  over  the  untimely 
death  of  poor  Schnapps  and  vowed  to  Davy  Rauhzahn, 
(who  wept  and  for  a  long  time  refused  to  be  comforted,) 
that  he  would  do  divers  di-eadful  things  to  Andrew 
Pfannkuchen  ;  but  when  he  learned  how  fearfully  the 
latter  had  been  beaten  in  the  misadventure  at  Reading 
he  relented  and  regarded  the  ruffian's  debt  tolerably 
well  canceled. 


OR,   A   GOLDEjST   circle    SQUARED.  589 

Pete  Prantman  was  shortly  released  from  his  captiv- 
ity, being  regarded  simply  as  a  tool  of  others.  He 
came  home  with  some  slight  knowledge  of  Philadelphia 
and  with  somewhat  broader  ideas  of  the  power  of  the 
government.  All  the  other  men  arrested  April  3rd 
except  Philip  Huber  were  likewise  discharged.  The 
leader  of  the  Knights  was  held  for  trial.  Abundant 
evidence  of  his  guilt  was  found.  Aside  from  the  knowl- 
edge which  Leonine  and  the  Hartnagels  possessed  of  his 
unlawful  acts,  Hans  Prantman  and  Mike  Hahn,  embit- 
tered  by  what  they  regarded  as  duplicity,  offered  to 
testify  against  him.  Then  truly  there  was  consterna- 
tion among  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  from  Penn- 
sylvania to  Indiana.  Strenuous  efforts  were  made  to 
suppress  their  testimony.  Many  prominent  politicians 
and  office-holders  feared  the  coiisequences  of  the  revela- 
tions they  might  make. 

Notwithstanding,  at  a  preliminary  hearing  held  two 
and  a  half  months  after  Huber's  arrest  both  Prantman 
and  Hahn  swore  that  Huber  had  again  and  again  violated 
the  provisions  of  the  Conscript  Act  of  March  3,  1863, 
relative  to  resistance  of  the  draft  and  of  officers  making 
it,  and  gave  full  particulars.  Yet  this  man  was  not 
finally  put  upon  trial.  No  government  on  earth  ever 
dealt  so  leniently  as  ours  with  conspirators  against  its 
life.  It  was  conscious  of  its  power  and  believed  that  in 
the  end  lenity  would  prove  the  best  policy.  Finding 
therefore  that  Golden  Circleism  was  dead  in  south- 
eastern  Pennsylvania,  it   deemed   it    wisest   to   release 


590  ENEMIES   IK   THE   EEAR  ; 

Huber  and  leave  him  to  his  own  disgrace.  Huber  at 
large  would  be  less  dangerous  than  Huber  posing  as  a 
martyr  in  Fort  Delaware.  He  was  liberated  and  the 
course  of  the  authorities  was  fully  vindicated  by  the 
sequel.  The  Knight  kept  at  home  and  his  tongue  lost 
its  eloquence.  After  some  years  he  went  West  and 
there  lived  in  obscurity. 

The  meeting  of  the  Copton  lodge  of  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Circle  in  Christian  Mehlhuber's  mill  on  Satur- 
day night,  April  4,  1863,  was  the  last  one  held  by  the 
order  in  that  section.  Huber's  arrest  and  the  ignomin- 
ious failure  of  the  "  Copton  Brigade "  to  rescue  him 
were  its  death-blow  there.  Thereafter  Lovina  Hart- 
nagel  might  have  listened  at  the  knot-hole  in  the  floor 
of  her  little  room  at  Hahn's,  and  her  brother  and  Sharp 
Billy  and  Bradley  Leonine  might  have  hid  in  Prant- 
man's  barn,  but  they  would  not  have  heard  the  voices  of 
the  Knights  breathing  defiance  to  the  government.  In 
the  course  of  a  short  time  former  members  of  the  Circle 
vigorously  denied  that  they  had  ever  belonged  to  it,  and 
more  emphatically  still  that  they  marched  with  the 
"  Copton  Brigade "  on  the  eventful  7th  of  April, 
1863. 

The  national  government  had  indeed  perfectly  solved 
the  problem  which  hitherto  had  been  almost  universally 
held  to  be  insoluble : . —  it  had  Squared  the  Circle.  It  had 
found  not  simply  the  approximate  contents  of  the 
Golden  Circle  of  Knights  in  Pennsylvania,  but  had 
gauged  them  absolutely.      The}^  were  ignorance,  hypoc- 


OR,    A   GOLDEN   CIECLE   SQUARED.  591 

risy  and  treason.  Let  us  fervently  hope  that  in  this 
comitry  at  least  these  three  hateful  elements  may  never 
again  combine  to  form  a  Circle. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

THE   FOKTTJKES    OF    A   ]SrUMBEE    OF    LNDIVEDUALS    TOLD. 

It  remains  in  the  concluding  chapter  of  this  narrative 
to  follow  a  little  farther  some  of  its  characters  and 
reveal  their  fortunes. 

Pete  Prantman  after  his  release  from  confinement, 
did  not  venture  to  come  to  Haltfest  for  several  months. 
During  that  period  he  did  however  one  evening  go  in 
the  opposite  direction  and  paid  Katrina  Galsch  a  visit. 
His  faith  in  the  fortune-teller's  sincerity,  if  not  in  her 
powers,  was  entirely  destroyed  by  the  events  of  the  past 
six  months.  He  upbraided  her  with  double-dealing  and 
deception,  and  threatened  to  prosecute  her  for  procuring 
money  on  false  pretences.  She  returned  threat  for 
threat  and  they  parted  in  anger.  On  Pete's  part  there 
was  harbored  a  fixed  j)urpose  of  revenge  for  what  he 
imagined  his  grievous  wrongs.  While  brooding  over  the 
matter  the  thought  of  the  sibyl's  treasure  insinuated 
itself.  His  cogitations  soon  crystallized  into  covetous- 
ness.  He  resolved  to  rob  her.  .  He  laid  his  plans  with 
great  caution  and  kept  his  secret  even  from  his  sister 
Pet.  It  would  seem  that  he  believed  Sharp  Billy  to  be 
away  from  home  on  the  night  when  he  attempted  to 
carry  out  his  purposes. 

He  came  to  Galsch's  habitation  late  at  night,  his  face 


OE,     A    GOLDEK   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  593 

blackened  and  otherwise  disguised.  The  door  was 
locked.  Hearing  him  call  she  recognized  his  voice  at 
once  though  he  tried  to  change  it.  She  told  Billy  to 
come  down  quickly  and  get  into  the  hammer  so  that 
he  might  hear  Avhat  Pete  wished  to  say.  The  latter 
was  hardly  admitted  before  he  sprung  upon  her  and  pro- 
ceeded to  tie  her  hands,  threatening  to  kill  her  unless 
she  revealed  the  place  where  she  kept  her  money. 
Sharp  Billy  softly  emerged  from  the  inner  chamber, 
crept  up  behind  the  burglar  as  he  bent  over  his  victim 
and  shot  him  through  the  head,  killing  him  instantly. 
The  lad  was  put  on  trial  for  his  life,  but  in  spite  of  the 
strong  pressure  brought  to  bear  for  his  conviction  it  was 
so  clearly  a  case  of  justifiable  homicide  that  he  was 
acquitted  after  a  long  and  memorable  trial. 

A  month  later  the  fortune-teller  was  one  morning  found 
dead  in  bed  by  her  ward.  The  excitement  incident  to 
Pete  Prantman's  attempt  at  burglary  and  his  tragic  death 
had  no  doubt  hastened  her  end.  Sharp  Billy  was 
almost  distracted.  He  ran  to  Bodie's  house  to  call  for 
help  and  Bodie  sent  him  after  Doctor  Heifer.  Her 
sudden  death  caused  much  comment.  The  gossips  said 
her  time  was  no  doubt  up,  and  her  master,  so  long  her 
servant,  came  to  claim  his  own  during  the  night  when 
she  was  asleep  and  could  not  help  herself  with  her  holy 
books.  Certainly,  the  fortune  of  Katrina  Galsch,  the 
fortune-teller  of  the  South  Mountain,  was  told  once  and 
forever. 

Those  who  anticipated  that  immense  sums  of  money 


594  EKEMXES   m  THE  EEAK  ; 

would  be  found  on  the  premises  after  her  death  were 
disappointed.  Only  about  fifteen  hundred  dollars  were 
discovered  but  gossips  nevertheless  insisted  that  she 
must  be  very  rich.  Some  hinted  that  Bodie,  who  was 
alone  with  the  dead  woman  until  Sharp  Billy  came  with 
Doctor  Heifer,  could  tell  something  about  the  matter  if  he 
chose,  while  others  said  that  na  doubt  Billy  himself  had 
secreted  money  here  and  there  from  time  to  time  under 
his  foster-mother's  direction.  A  will  was  found  by 
which,  after  the  payment  of  all  her  debts-  and  the  ex- 
penses of  a  decent  funeral,  she  bequeathed  and  devised 
all  her  property  to  William  Puterberg,  otherwise  known 
as  William  Galsch  or  Sharp  Billy.  She  likewise  asked 
her  heir  never  to  forget  his  mam  and  forbade  him  ever 
to  engage  in  the  business  of  fortiuie-telling,  witchcraft, 
or  any  related  occupation,  as  all  these  things  were  a 
delusion  and  a  snare. 

Another  document  was  disclosed  among  the  effects  of 
this  woman.  It  was  a  confession  relative  to  the  murder 
of  Felix  Fetzer,  James  Fetzer's  father,  in  1851.  It 
was  similar  to  what  fell  from  her  lips  and  those  of  Hans 
Prantman  during  their  last  interview,  related  in  a  pre- 
vious chapter.  In  consequence  of  the  discovery  of  this 
paper  Prantman,  senior,  was  arrested  but  died  very  sud- 
denly within  an  hour  after  his  arrest.  The  sad  death  of 
his  son  together  with  the  fact  that  his  farm  was  heavily 
encumbered  because  of  his  connection  with  Golden  Cir- 
cleism,  had  aggravated  an  organic  difficulty  of  the  heart, 
and  his  apprehension  for  a  crime  of  which  his  conscience 


OR,    A    GOLDEN   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  695 

pleaded  guilty  and  which  had  weighed  on  his  mind  for 
years,  brought  on  a  crisis  in  the  derangement  of  the 
vital  organ  resulting  in  sudden  death.  Once  more  the 
heads  and  tongues  of  the  gossips  wagged.  It  Avas  said 
that  Hans  Prantman  and  Katrina  Galsch  had  employed 
the  same  servant  and  that  the  latter  had  simply  taken 
his  wages.  But  Hans  had  the  regulation  Pennsylvania 
Dutch  fimeral.  The  Reverend  William  Heimer 
preached  the  sermon  and  recounted  the  virtues  of  the 
deceased  in  eloquent  language.  He  refrained  however 
from  mentioning  that  the  subject  of  his  eulogy  had 
marched  to  Reading  at  the  head  of  the  "  Copton 
Brigade."  The  fear  of  Commissioner  Olds  was  before 
his  eyes. 

On  a  beautiful  June  morning  Tom  Hartnagel  and 
Sallie  Vonneida  drove  to  Reading  in  a  carriage  and  were 
quietly  married.  But  on  their  return  an  innovation 
was  witnessed  in  the  old  Ruthvon  mansion  :  —  a  grand 
wedding  supper  was  ready  in  honor  of  the  happy  couple. 
And  we  may  be  quite  sure  that  besides  Doctor  Heifer, 
Susie  Zweispringer,  Blanche  Chetwynde  and  other 
guests,  Sharp  Billy,  dressed  in  a  new  suit  of  clothes, 
coat  and  all,  was  present  at  the  table  and  that  he  sat 
next  the  groom  on  the  left.  Moreover,  judging  from  the 
many  beautiful  and  useful  gifts  —  Haiissteuer  —  received 
by  Tom  and  his  bride  on  the  auspicious  occasion,  the 
promise  that  on  their  wedding-day  they  should  not  be 
forgotten  was  fully  kept.  They  did  not  get  the  usual 
Berks   County  charivari  though.      The  feeling  against 


596  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR  ; 

Tom  on  the  part  of  many  was  still  so  bitter  that  he  and 
his  bride  were  spared  the  doubtful  compliment. 

That  evening  Frederick  Ruthvon  said  to  his  wife :  — 
"  Maria,  I  think  maybe  after  all  great-grandfather 
Ruthvon  wouldn't  have  scolded  if  he  had  been  here  to- 
day. I  felt  so  good  that  I  think  he  would  have  too. 
It  was  better  than  hanging  by  your  hands  to  the  eaves 
of  the  barn -roof  !  " 

Within  a  week  after  his  marriage  Tom  Hartnagel 
enlisted  for  state  defence  for  the  second  time  in  response 
to  a  call  from  Governor  Curtin  of  Pennsylvania.  Lee 
was  agam  in  the  Keystone  state  and  a  general  engage- 
ment between  the  Union  and  the  Confederate  armies 
seemed  imminent. 

"  I  can't  stand  this  here  thing  any  longer,  by  Schin- 
nerhannes  !  "  said  he  to  Captain  Ruthvon.  "  The  rebels 
has  got  to  be  whipped.  Them  at  home  is  pretty  well 
used  up  now  and  I  must  help  'tend  to  them  from  the 
South !  Sallie  cries  over  my  going  but  she  tells  me  to 
go  and  do  my  duty,  and  I'm  going." 

In  October  there  was  another  wedding.  It  was  at 
the  home  of  Yankee  Chetwynde.  That  the  principals 
were  Captain  Charles  Ruthvon  and  Blanche  Chetwynde 
need  hardly  be  said.  The  house  was  filled  with  merry 
guests.  The  old  pastor  of  the  family  in  Connecticut,  the 
Reverend  Haggai  Forsythe,  was  present  by  special  invi- 
tation and  united  the  happy  couple.  There  was  but  one 
circumstance  that  threw  a  shadow  over  the  festivities, — 
the    absence    of   Clinton    Chetwynde,     Early    in    June 


OR,    A   GOLDEI^   CIRCLE    SQUARED.  597 

already  lie  liad  been  ordered  to  the  front.  Mr.  Rutlivon 
and  Mr.  Chetwynde  and  their  wives  exerted  themselves 
to  keep  the  conversation  at  the  bountiful  wedding  repast 
from  drifting  to  war  matters,  but  Susie  Zweisprmger's 
preoccupied  look  at  intervals  showed  that  whilst  she 
tried  hard  to  be  cheerful  her  thoughts  were  far  away 
with  her  absent  lover  and  that  her  heart  was  filled  with 
anxiety  on  his  account. 

This  wedding  created  much  unfavorable  comment  in 
the  community. 

"  These  Yankee  notions  is  working  bad  hereabouts," 
said  Ret  Prantman,  who  voiced  the  general  sentiment. 
"  Such  extravagance  is  awful  and  they'll  be  as  poor  as 
church  mice  yet.  •  And  our  old  minister  wasn't  good 
enough  to  marry  the  stuck  up  things  either  but  they 
had  to  go  aud  get  a  Yankee  preacher  to  come  all  the 
way  from  'Neticut,  and  I  think  once,  l^y  my  sex,  he 
couldn't  do  it  any  better  than  Dox,  and  not  half  as  good 
as  Heimer.  And  then  they  must  take  a  trip  yet,  as 
they  call  it,  and  spend  money  bad.  My  !  Such  dumb- 
ness !  " 

"  Maria,"  said  Frederick  Ruthvon  to  his  wife  after 
the  carriage  cairying  Charles  and  his  bride  to  the  raih'oad 
station  had  disappeared  from  view,  "  how  happy  is  this 
day  compared  with  that  awful  night  when  Charlie 
was  " 

"  Oh,  Fred,  say  nothing  more  about  it,"  interrupted 
his  gentle  companion.  "  The  dear  Lord  God  has  been 
very  good  to  us  and  I  thank  Him  for  it." 


598  ENE]yiIES    EST   THE   EEAE  ; 

"I  knew  something  good  was  going  to  happen,"  said 
Grandmother  Ruthvon,  who  of  course  was  at  her  grand- 
son's wedding  and  had  come  out  mto  the  yard  with  the 
rest  to  see  the  couple  off.  "  I  dreamed  last  night  that 
a  white  angel  stood  at  the  foot  of  my  l)ed,  and  it  was 
just  so,  my  son,  the  night  before  I  was  married  to  your 
father.  It  never  fails."  And  the  old  lady  went  home 
in  a  very  happy  mood. 

They  may  laugh  at  you  who  will,  grandmother,  but 
we  shall  not.  For  we  have  been  taught  that  the  angels 
are  "  ministering  spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  for  them 
who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation,"  and  we  are  quite  sure 
that  the  angels  were  with  you  when  a  few  months  later 
God  summoned  you  from  earth. 

Clinton  Chetwynde  was  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg 
and  on  the  third  day  distinguished  himself  by  great 
bravery  at  the  ,"  Bloody  Angle,"  shortly  after  which  he 
received  a  first  lieutenant's  commission.  He  served 
gallantly  to  the  end  of  the  war  and  came  home  as  Cap- 
tain Chetwynde,  bearing  likewise  on  his  person  the 
scars  of  several  wounds  received  in  battle.  When  the 
first  June  after  the  war  came  it  brought  the  day  on 
which  he  and  Susie  Zweispringer  were  made  husband 
and  wife,  and  the  Ret  Prantman  kind  was  once  more 
scandalized  because  of  the  extravagance  and  Yankee 
ways  that  prevailed  on  the  gladsome  occasion. 

"  Susie  is  a  dear  child,"  said  Squire  Zweispringer  to 
Doctor  Heifer  the  day  before  his  daughter's  marriage. 
"  She's  the  very  image  of  her  mother  dead  and  gone 


OE,     A   GOLDEN   CIECLE    SQUARED.  599 

and  she  shall  have  everythmg  her  own  way  to-morrow 
if  it  costs  me  a  thousand  dollars !  " 

"  Ho !  yOn  are  right,  squire,"  responded  the  doctor  in 
his  old,  hearty  way,  yet  with  a  tinge  of  sadness  in  his 
voice  too.  "  Susie  deserves  it  all  and,  by  the  great 
Eulenspiegel,  I  wish  I  was  in  Clint  Chetw;)mde's  shoes. 
But  I  was  too  slow  for  the  young  rascal.  I'll  be  at  the 
wedding  though  and,  mark  it,  you  squire  you,  I'll  kiss 
the  bride !  " 

This  resolution  the  valiant  doctor  carried  out  and 
neither  Susie  nor  her  gallant  husband  objected.  He  did 
not  remain  at  Haltfest  very  long  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  His  sincerity  and  probity,  and  his  skill  in  his 
profession,  were  recognized  and  a  wider  field  of  useful- 
ness soon  opened  for  him,  and  to-day  he  is  one  of  the 

most  prominent  physicians  in  the  city  of  C .     He 

left  Haltfest  with  much  regret  and  remains  a  bachelor 
even  until  now.  He  took  good  care  of  Davy  Rauhzahn, 
who  is  now  a  rising  surgeon  and  the  junior  partner  in 
the  medical  firm  of  Heifer  and  Rauhzahn. 

What  became  of  Sharp  Billy  ?  Well,  in  her  will  his 
foster-mother  elected  Doctor  HeKer  her  executor  and  he 
discharged  the  trust  faithfully.  He  took  charge  of  Billy 
and  gave  him  a  good  common-school  education,  and 
when  the  lad  came  of  age  there  were  several  thousand 
dollars  to  his  credit  to  help  him  start  in  life,  and  if  you, 
kind  reader,  ever  visit  the  toAvnship  of  Copton,  you  will 
be  told  that  William  Galsch  is  the  contented  and  re- 
spected owner  of  the  finest  fruit-farm  within  its  borders. 


600  ENEMIES    EST    THE    REAR  ; 

He  says  he  told  his  fortune  on  his  farm.  And  —  will 
you  believe  it  ?  — ■  though  three  years  older  than  he, 
Lovina  Hartnagel  is  his  wife !  He  declares  that  he 
always  admired  her  brother  Tom  above  all  men  and  on 
the  night  Lovina  made  her  famous  leap  from  Hahn's 
window  he  admired  him  so  much  that  he  determined,  as 
he  could  not  be  his  brother,  to  be  his  brother-in-law 
some  day.  Presently  he  found  that  he  admired  Lovina 
even  more  than  Tom  and  happily  they  travel  the  jour- 
ney of  life  together. 

Adjoining  the  farm  of  Sharp  Billy — as  we  still  love 
to  call  him  —  is  that  of  Tom  Hartnagel  and  the  friend- 
ship between  the  fortune-teller's  boy  and  the  ex-soldier 
grows  stronger  with  the  passing  years.  Tom's  oldest 
son  is  not  as  pugnacious  as  the  father  used  to  be,  and 
within  a  few  years  he  has  been  ordained  a  minister. 

"•  William,"  said  Tom  to  the  young  man  on  the  day 
of  the  latter's  ordination,  "  proud  as  me  and  your  mother 
is  of  you  to-day,  if  you  ever  preach  doctrine  like  that 
there  inflated  Heimer  who  I've  more  than  once  told  you 
of,  we'll  disown  you  as  sure  as  the  world  stands." 

Bradley  Leonine,  still  living  at  a  vigorous  old  age, 
continued  to  be  a  terror  to  evil-doers  for  many  years 
after  the  war.  Between  him  and  Tom  Hartnagel  there 
was  great  congeniality  from  their  first  acquaintance  and 
their  regard  for  each  other  has  not  been  lessened  by 
time.  About  once  a  year  there  is  a  jolly  gathering  at 
Tom  Hartnagel's  house  and  besides  Tom  and  his  wife 
among  those  present  Sharp  Billy  and  Lovina,  Bradley 


OR,    A    GOLDEN    CIUCLE    SQUARED.  601 

Leonine,  Captain  Ruthvon  and  Carl  Schlapphammel  can 
always  be  found.  Then  the  old  incidents  —  the  refusal 
to  be  initiated,  the  hidings  in  the  barn,  the  leap  from 
the  window,  and  many  others  —  are  rehearsed,  amid 
laughter  on  the  part  of  the  actors  and  the  admiring 
wonder  of  the  younger  generation  present.  On  these 
occasions  Sharp  Billy  is  not  averse  to  singing  some  of 
the  old  war-songs  and  ditties  and  playing  his  fife,  but 
when  it  is  suggested  that  the  young  ones  might  like  to 
hear  the  Indian  he  invariably  declares  that  the  savage  is 
dead  in  earnest  and  will  be  heard  no  more  ! 

The  old  Ruthvon  homestead  still  remains  in  the  fam- 
ily and  is  likely  so  to  continue  for  generations.  Charles 
Ruthvon  occupies  it  and  quietly  pursues  the  farmer's 
peaceful  calling,  Owing  to  the  wound  inflicted  by  Jake 
Zellon  he  was  not  strong  for  several  years  and  never 
returned  to  the  army.  Not  very  long  after  Ruber's 
arrest  he  resigned  his  commission  and  took  charge  of  his 
father's  farm.  Frederick  Ruthvon  is  living  with  his 
son,  loved  and  honored  by  his  children  and  grandchil- 
dren. He  is  more  than  forescore  years  of  age  now  but 
is  yet  hale  and  hearty.  Maria  Ruthvon  was  recently 
laid  to  rest  in  the  beautiful  God's  Acre  by  the  old  church 
on  the  hill,  followed  to  her  grave  by  hundreds  of  weep- 
ing neighbors  and  friends. 

Squire  Zweispringer  and  Jabez  Chetwynde  have  also 
gone  hence  after  having  spent  long  and  useful  lives. 
Doctor  Heifer  was  present  at  both  burials  and  was 
deeply  affected. 


602  ENEMIES   ZN"   THE   REAR; 

A  few  years  ago  while  on  a  vacation  the  author 
visited  Copton  township.  He  renewed  his  acquaintance 
with  Captain  Ruth  von  and  from  him  learned  most  of 
these  later  events  in  the  lives  of  some  of  the  characters 
appearing  on  these  pages.  Inquiry  concerning  Catha- 
rine elicted  the  information  that  she  lives  at  Uwchlan 
and  that  her  name  has  long  been  Catharine  Hmton. 

In  the  course  of  his  rambles  he  came  upon  the  old 
mill  in  the  defile  and  found  William  Rambeutel  in  full 
possession.  He  accepted  the  proprietor's  cordial  invita- 
tion to  dinner  and  thus  became  acquainted  with  Vickey 
Rambeutel,  n^e  Hauser.  Considering  the  way  the 
miller  listened  to  and  obeyed  his  wife's  little  behests  he 
concluded  that  if  William  was  master  of  the  mill,  Vickey 
surely  was  mistress  of  the  house.  During  the  meal 
Rambeutel  stated  that  Christian  Mehlhuber  died  in 
1876,  whilst  on  a  visit  to  the  Centennial  Exposition, 
and  also  mentioned  Andrew  Pfannkuchen  and  Hen 
Weinmiller.  After  the  march  of  the  "  Copton  Brigade" 
the  former  was  a  helper  at  "  The  People's  Hotel  "  a  short 
time,  and  was  known  as  "  the  one-eyed  hostler,"  in  con- 
sequence of  having  lost  an  eye  in  his  conflct  with  the 
mob  in  "front  of  the  "  Plow  and  Harrow."  One  night 
he  became  involved  in  a  drunken  row  in  which  he  struck 
a  man  a  blow  that  was  at  first  believed  to  be  fatal.  He 
fled  and  was  never  heard  of  again. 

"  Dan  Baltzer  died  about  ten  years  ago,"  said  Ram- 
beutel. "  Then  Hen  Weinmiller  took  charge  of  '  The 
People's  Hotel,'  his  father  helping  him  to  buy  the  place. 


OR,     A   GOLDEX   CIRCLE   SQUARED.  603 

Hen  got  back  from  the  army  without  a  scratch,  but  if 
you  want  to  make  him  bad  cross,  just  say  '  draft '  or 
'  Abe  Lincohi '  to  him  !  —  Ret  Prantman  ?  Why,  she 
lives  on  the  old  place  yet  —  what  is  left  of  it.  A  good 
many  notes  came  in  after  old  Hans  died  and  a  part  of 
the  farm  had  to  be  sold.  She  is  the  boss  and  the  neigh- 
bors says  she  don't  treat  her  feeble-minded  brother 
Amos  good.  She  is  a  wrinkled,  sour-faced  old  woman." 
Tarrying  in  Copton  over  Sunday,  the  author  on  the 
morning  of  that  day  went  to  the  old  church.  Going 
early,  he  lingered  in  the  graveyard  and  with  a  melan- 
choly interest  read  the  inscriptions  on  many  of  the 
marble  slabs.  Over  a  grave  m  an  obscure  corner  he 
discovered  an  humble  stone  on  which  was  written  : 

"Here  rest  the  remains  of  Adam  Sparger  who  lost  his  life  in  a 
noble  effort  to  save  a  child  from  drowning,  November  11th,  1863. 
This  stone  is  erected  over  his  ashes  by  a  friend." 

While  readuig  this  inscription  an  elderly  man 
approached  and  abruptly  volunteered  the  information 
that  his  name  was  Jared  Katzbauer. 

'^  That's  Ad  Sparger's  grave,"  said  he.  "  He  and 
water  never  agreed  good  and  it  killed  him  at  last. 
Doctor  Heifer,  who  is  now  an  awful  big  doctor  they  say, 
got  this  here  grave-stone  for  him.  It  was  well  worth 
while  for  such  a  drunkard." 

Perhaps  poor  Sparger  will  have  some  good  standing 
to  his  account  in  the  Youngest  Day  after  all,  Jared. 
Who  knows  ?    Meanwhile  be  careful  and  learn  charity. 

The  tolling   bell    announced  that   the   services  were 


604  ENEMIES    IN    THE    REAR. 

about  to  begin.  Entering  tlie  churcli,  a  beautiful 
building,  enlarged  and  quite  different  from  what  it  used 
to  be  in  tlie  war  times,  was  found.  The  audience,  too, 
had  changed.  Old  faces  had  disappeared,  new  faces  had 
come.  In  Vorsteher  Fettig's  place  sat  Carl  Schlapp- 
hammel  witli  becoming  dignity  and  gravity  of  manner. 
Windkasten  was  not  to  be  seen  and  the  bellows-ropes 
no  longer  dangled  from  the  ceiling.  Nathan  Geiger's 
seat  at  the  organ  was  occupied  by  a  stranger,  and  in  the 
pulpit  so  long  and  so  acceptably  filled  by  the  Reverend 
Ortho  Dox  stood  a  young  man.  The  playing  and  the 
smging  had  improved  greatly  and  the  preachmg  was  of 
a  somewhat  newer  and  better  type. 

When  the  services  were  ended  the  visitor  went  forth 
and  once  more  looked  over  the  lovely  valley.  The  pas- 
sions aroused  by  war  had  long  been  stilled  and  the 
thrifty  and  contented  inhabitants  were  at  peace  with 
each  other  and  with  all  the  world.  On  the  following 
morning  he  reluctantly  bade  adieu  for  a  time  to  this  old 
neighborhood  and  to  his  many  friends  in  it.  Mean- 
while both  it  and  they  hold  a  warm  place  in  his 
heart. 


From  the  press  of  the  Arena  PublisJiiiig  Company. 


Serious  T^orhs  for  Stubenfs  of  Social,  Economic  an6 
Political  Problems. 

Price,  paper,  50  cents;  cloth,  $1.25. 


Prof. 

Frank 

Parsons 


A  Noble  Work 
which  will 
appeal  to  all 
High  Thinking 
Men  and  Women 


OUR  COUNTRY'S  NEED  :  or  The  Development 
of  Scientific  Industrialism. 

A  work  on  industrial  pliilosophy,  of  which  Professor 
Parsons,  to  use  his  own  words,  says  :  — 

"  My  object  in  the  book  is  to  construct  a  new  political 
science  on  the  idea,  that  manhood  and  noble  living  are  the 
supreme  objects  of  all  human  endeavor,  and,  therefore,  the 
true  objects  of  all  laws  and  institutions,  industrial  institu- 
tions among  the  rest." 

The  late  Phillips  Brooks  read  the  manuscript  of  this 
remarkable  work,  and  wrote  to  the  author,  "  'Our  Coun- 
try's Need'  is  destined  to  be  an  epoch-making  book."  It 
is  a  volume  for  the  present  hour,  and  those  interested  in 
live  social  problems  will  find  it  a  wonderful  work,  filled 
with  striking  thoughts  presented  in  a  very  engaging  and 
convincing  manner. 


Poems  of  Reform. 


Frances 

Margaret 

Milne 


A  Notable 
Volume  of 
Poems  of  the 
New  Time 


FOR  TO-DAY. 


Published  only  in  cloth.     Price  $1 .00. 


This  book  is  elegantly  printed  in  large  and  beautiful 
type,  on  first-class  paper,  and  its  cover  is  as  chaste  as  it  is 
substantial. 

Another  clarion  voice  in  the  chorus  of  a  new  day.  .  .  .  Many 
of  the  poems  thrill  with  an  en'husiasm  which  marks  a  soul  aflame 
with  redemptive  thought.  —  The  Arena. 

The  noble  aim  of  all  Mrs.  Milne's  writings,  combined  with 
their  great  literary  merit,  should  commend  them  to  all.  What 
Whittier  was  to  the  anti-slavery  movement,  Mrs.  Milne  is  to  ttiis 
greater  movement  of  to-day,  which  is  based  on  "equal  rights  for 
all,  special  privilege  to  none" — which  means  freedom  not  alone 
for  the  l)lack  man,  nor  the  white  man,  but  for  all  mankind. — 
7 he  Star,  San  Francisco. 

For  sale  by  all  newsdealers,  or  sent  postpaid  by 

Arena  Publishing  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 


From  the  press  of  thi  Arena  Publishing  Company. 


Fiction :  Social,  Economic  anb  Beformatiue. 


Price,  paper,  ^0  cents;   cloth,  $1.2$. 


Byron 
A.  Brooks 


The 

New  Utopia 


Hamlin 
Garland 


A  powerfully 
Dramatic  Novel, 
dealing  with  the 
Struggles  of  the 
Poor  in  City  and 
Country 


EARTH  REVISITED. 

A  story  for  earnest  men  and  women  of  the  new  time. 
Mr.  Flower,  in  "  Civilization's  Inferno,"  portrays  some 
hideous  phases  of  modern  civilization.  Mr.  Brooks,  in 
"  Earth  Revisited,"  pictures  our  earth  blossoming  in 
peace,  joy  and  happiness,  under  cooperation.  This  story, 
which  is  charming  as  a  pure,  clean  love  story,  is  made  the 
vehicle  for  shadowing  forth  an  ideal  civilization  through 
the  working  of  the  law  of  all  for  all.  Few  social  studies 
are  so  helpful  in  psychical  suggestions  as  "  Earth  Revis- 
ited," and  probably  this  work  more  than  any  other  Uto- 
pian romance  sustains  the  interest  of  the  reader  from  first 
to  last. 


Price,  paper,  $0  cents;  cloth,  $1.25. 

JASON   EDWARDS. 

This  work  is  one  of  the  most  powerful  portrayals  of  the 
struggles  of  the  mechanic  in  the  city  and  the  farmer  in  the 
West  ever  published.  It  is  highly  dramatic  while  per- 
fectly realistic,  and  though  it  ends  in  a  burst  of  sunshine, 
its  noble  lessons  will  linger  in  the  heart. 

Hamlin  Garland's  splendid  qualities  —  his  sympathy  with 
humanity,  his  perceptiun  of  the  subtlest  meaning  of  nature,  his 
power  to  bring  tiis  people  before  you  as  if  you  had  grown  up 
in  their  dooryards  —  these  are  nis  own. 

Mary  E.  Wilkins  has  given  us  the  pathos  of  humblest  New 
England;  Charles  Egbert  Craddock  has  made  known  to  us  the 
secrets  of  the  Tennessee  Mountains;  Rudyard  Kipling  has 
carried  us  to  India;  and  now,  at  last,  here  is  the  story-teller  of 
farm  life  in  those  Western  prairies  among  which  Hamlin  Gar- 
land grew  up,  to  which  he  goes  back,  now  and  again,  with  the 
child's  heart,  the  man's  insight.  —  Louise  Chandler  Aloulton,  in 
Boston  Herald. 

For  sale  by  all  newsdealers ,  or  sent  postpaid  by 

Arena  Publishing  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 


I^ro/n  the  press  of  the  Arena  Publishing  Company. 


Che  Double  $tan6ar6  of  Jflorals  Discusseb. 


Mrs.  S.  n. 
H.  Gardner 


m 


Helen  H. 
Gardener 


m 


Price,  paper,  50  cents  ;  cloth,  $1.25. 
THE  FORTUNES  OF  HARQARET  WELD. 

This  is  a  frank,  simple  record  of  the  terrible  temptation 
that  sweeps  with  the  force  of  circumstance  into  only  too 
many  women's  lives.  Margaret  Weld  is  typical  of  a  great 
many  profoundly  spiritual  characters  touched  with  the 
spirit  of  revolt  against  the  old  blind  conventionalisms  of  re- 
ligious and  social  dogma,  but  not  wholly  in  accord  with 
the  profounder  religious  spirit  underlying  the  new  thought. 
In  many  respects  it  is  an  old  story,  but  it  is  one  that  needs 
telling  over  and  over  again,  of  which  the  heart  can  never 
tire.  And  there  is  an  element  of  hope  and  pity  and  justice 
in  it  which  belongs  entirely  to  the  new  spirit  creeping  in- 
to the  literature  of  social  thought  of  our  day.  The  story 
shows  how  a  high-minded,  pure  woman,  can  make  a  grave 
mistake,  but  it  also  shows  that  with  an  environment  of^ 
human  sympathy,  and  love,  and  true  charity,  that  mistake 
is  not  irreparable.  It  is  a  strong  plea  for  a  single  standard 
of  morals. 

Price,  paper,  ^o  cents ;  cloth,  $1.00. 

PRAY  YOU,  SIR,  WHOSE  DAUGHTER? 

"  The  civil  and  canon  law,"  writes  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cady 
Stanton,  "state  and  church  alike,  make  the  mothers  of 
the  race  a  helpless,  ostracised  class,  pariahs  of  a  corrupt 
civilization.  In  Helen  Gardener's  stories  I  see  the  promise 
of  such  a  work  of  fiction  that  shall  paint  the  awful  facts  of 
woman's  position  in  living  colors  that  all  must  see  and  feel. 
Those  who  know  the  sad  facts  of  woman's  life,  so  carefully 
veiled  from  society  at  large,  will  not  consider  the  pictures 
in  this  story  overdrawn.  Some  critics  say  that  everyone 
knows  and  condemns  these  facts  in  our  social  life,  and 
that  we  do  not  need  fiction  to  intensify  the  public  disgust. 
But  to  keep  our  sons  and  daughters  innocent  we  must  warn 
them  of  the  dangers  that  beset  them.  Ignorance  under 
no  circumstances  insures  safety.  Honor  protected  by 
knowledge  is  safer  than  innocence  protected  by  ignorance." 
For  sale  by  all  newsdealers  or  sent  postpaid  by 

Arena  Publishing  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 


From  the  press  of  the  Arena  Publishing  Company. 


Gen.  A.  J. 
Warner 


Hon. 
John  Davis, 

M.  C. 


The  Truth  About 
Fiat  Currency. 
A  Six-Century 
Experiment 


Hon. 

John  Davis, 

n.  C. 


Plain  Facts 
about  the  Gold- 
god 


Hon. 

John  Davis, 

n.  C. 


The   Contraction 
of  Currency  — 
What  it  Means, 
and  Whom  it 
Benefits 


Price,  lo  cents. 

SILVER  OR  FIAT  nONEY  :    WHICH  SHALL 
IT  BE? 

A  pamphlet  of  the  greatest  importance  on  a  question 
that  is  freighted  with  consequences  of  greater  moment  to 
the  people  of  this  country  and  of  the  whole  civilized  world 
than  any  other  now  under  discussion.  The  contraction  of 
money  means  the  arresting  of  the  civilization  of  the  whole 
western  world.  It  means  bringing  above  a  social  night 
like  that  of  mediaeval  times. 

Price,  iQ  cents. 
THE  BANK  OF  VENICE. 

Finance  is  a- game  at  which  all  must  play  whether  they 
will  or  no.  None  can  escape  it.  All  must  take  their 
chances  in  every  great  move  on  the  financial  chess-board, 
and  woe  unto  him  who  does  not  understand  the  game.  It 
is  well,  therefore,  that  every  man  in  discussing  the  great 
question  of  to-day  —  monometallism  or  bimetallism  or 
greenbacks  —  should  know  about  the  Bank  of  Venice,  which 
for  six  centuries  had  the  most  successful  fiat  money  system 
the  world  has  ever  seen,  and  which  never  closed  its  doors 
and  whose  funds  never  went  to  a  discount.  This  is  a  tract 
full  of  valuable  facts  for  those  who  are  wedded  to  the  gold 
standard. 

Price,  10  cents. 
SILVER   IN  ENGLAND. 

This  should  be  read  in  connection  with  Gen.  A.  J.  War- 
ner's "  Silver  or  Fiat  Money,"  and  with  the  Hon.  John 
Davis'  other  valuable  exposition  of  our  present  financial 
situation,  "  Honest  and  Dishonest  Money."  There  is 
probably  no  man  in  the  United  States  who  has  made 
finance  the  subject  of  such  patient,  exhaustive  study  as 
Hon.  John  Davis,  and  there  is  most  assuredly  no  man 
who  writes  upon  the  subject  with  such  candor  and  honesty. 

Price,  JO  cents. 

HONEST  AND   DISHONEST   MONEY. 

This  is  supplementary  to  the  pamphlet  on  "  Silver  in 
England"  —  that  is,  it  shows  a  similar  crisis  in  the  financial 
history  of  this  country,  which  was  reached  in  1890  by  the 
repeal  of  the  silver  compromise  measure.  "  Honest  and 
Dishonest  Money"  reveals  the  hypocrisy  of  those  who  op- 
pose fiat  money  for  the  benefit  of  society  as  "  paternal- 
ism." It  shows  one  thing  conclusively,  that  without  this 
"paternalism"  the  American  struggle  for  independence 
would  have  ended  in  black  ignominy. 
For  sale  by  all  Jiew s dealer s ,  or  sent  postpaid  by 

Arena  Publishing  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 


A  Bundle  of  New  Books. 


riarion  D. 

Shutter, 

D.  D. 


Wit  and  Humor 
are  sometimes 
confused  with 
Buffoonery. 
They,  however, 
are  to  be  found  in 
the  highest  works 
only,  and  they 
are  subtly 
present  in  the 
highest 


Thomas 

Alexander 

Hyde 


Published  only  in  cloth  ;  price,  $1.50. 

Wit  and  Humor  of  the  Bible. 

A  literary  study.  Many  writers  have  written  instructive 
commentaries  upon  the  pathos  and  sublimity  of  the  Bible, 
but  the  literary  elements  comprised  in  the  title  of  this 
interesting  and  revealing  work  have  rarely  been  men- 
tioned. Dr.  Shutter  has  here  entered  into  a  field  which 
before  was  untraversed.  This  side  of  sacred  literature  has 
been  long  neglected,  probably  because  in  so  many  minds 
wit  and  humor  are  somehow  associated  with  mere  ribaldry 
and  irreverence.  This  is  a  grave  mistake.  Wit  and 
humor  are  too  fine,  and  have  their  origin  in  emotions  too 
human  and  ennobling,  to  serve  the  purposes  of  coarse  and 
mean,  degraded  natures.  In  human  nature,  the  sources 
of  laughter  and  tears  lie  close  together;  we  need  not, 
therefore,  be  surprised  to  find  wit  and  humor  in  the  Bible, 
in  which  every  human  passion  is  mirrored,  in  which  the 
whole  philosophy  of  life  is  to  be  found,  with  some  con- 
solation and  sympathy  for  every  mood  of  humanity.  This 
book  of  Dr.  Shutter's  is  the  work  of  one  who  loves  and 
knows  the  Great  Book  thoroughly  and  reverently. 

Cloth .     Price,  post-paid,  $1.25. 

Clirist  the  Orator  :    or,  Never  nan  5pake 

Like  This  Man. 

This  brilliant  work,  the  only  one  of  its  kind  which  has 
been  given  to  the  world,  is  a  monograph  upon  the  third 
side  of  Christ's  nature  —  the  expressional.  The  Rev. 
Thomas  Alexander  Hyde,  the  author,  is  a  vivid  and  vigor- 
ous thinker,  and  before  the  publication  of  this  book, 
which  has  made  his  name  as  familiar  in  the  religious  world 
as  that  of  any  contemporary  religious  teacher,  he  had 
made  a  reputation  as  the  author  of  "  The  Natural  System 
of  Elocution  and  Oratory."  "Christ  the  Orator"  has 
already  awakened  widespread  interest,  and  received  high 
endorsement  from  leading  editors,  preachers,  scholars  and 
thoughtful  laymen  everywhere,  representing  every  phase 
of  Christian  thought.  Its  earnest  spirit,  sympathetic  and 
finished  style  and  lofty  purpose,  render  it  a  welcome  guest 
in  every  family. 

Mr.  Hyde  is  a  vivid  writer  and  a  vigorous  thinker.  His 
mind  eviden  ly  does  not  run  in  the  old  theological  grooves, 
though  we  conclude  that  he  is  sufficiently  conservative.  His 
attempt  to  prove  Christ  an  orator  is  at  least  unique.  His  book 
is  suggestive,  full  of  bright  and  beautiful  sayings,  and  is  quite 
worth  a  careful  reading.  —  Ne%u  York  Herald. 

For  sale  by  all  newsdealers,  or  sent  postpaid  by 

Arena  Publishing  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 


From  the  press  of  the  Arena  Publishing  Company. 


Helen  H.  iBar6ener'$  Essays  an6  Bhort  Stones. 


Helen  H. 
Gardener 


A  Collection  of 
stirring,  unusual 
Stories,  dealing 
with  unhack- 
neyed themes  in 
a  masterly  way 


Helen  H. 
Gardener 


A  Remarkable 
Book.     It  marks 
an  epoch  in  the 
trend  of  Social 
Thought 


Price,  cloth,  $i.oo ;  paper,  50  cents. 
A  THOUGHTLESS  YES. 

A  collection  of  short  stories  in  which  field  this  brilliant 
writer  is  especially  suggestive  and  successful.  These 
stories  have  gone  through  several  editions,  and  with  the 
continual  expansion  of  Mrs.  Gardener's  fame  as  the  author 
of  "Pray  You,  Sir,  Whose  Daughter?"  "An  Unofficial 
Patriot  "  and  other  books  of  world-wide  repute,  they  find 
new  and  delighted  readers  and  admirers.  The  opinions 
of  the  press  give  the  book  a  very  high  place  as  a  work  of 
genuine  literary  art. 

Marked  by  a  quaint  philosophy,  shrewd,  sometimes  pnngent 
reflection,  each  one  possesses  enough  purely  literary  merit  to 
make  its  way  and  hold  its  own.  "  The  Lady  of  the  Club"  is 
indeed  a  terrible  study  of  social  abuses  and  problems,  and  most 
of  the  others  suggest  more  in  the  same  direction. 

—  New  York  Tribune. 

Will  do  considerable  to  stir  up  thought  and  breed  a  "  divine 
discontent"  with  vested  wrong  and  intrenched  justice.  The 
stories  are  written  in  a  bright,  vivacious  style. 

—  Boston  Transcript. 

Price,  cloth,  $1.00;  paper,  50  cents. 
FACTS  AND  FICTIONS  OF  LIFE. 

A  Collection  of  Sparkling  and  Thoughtful  Essays  on  the 
Vital  Questions  of  Life,  that  should  awaken  the  conscience 
in  every  man  not  dead  to  a  sense  of  all  moral  obligation, 
and  spur  every  woman  to  stand  steadfast  and  strong  and 
demand  in  the  marriage  relation  a  manhood  that  shall  be 
as  clear  and  unpolluted  as  womanhood. 

But  Helen  Gardener  is  at  her  best  in  the  most  difficult  liter- 
ary channel,  that  of  the  essayist.  She  says  more  in  fewer  words 
than  any  writer  of  the  day,  and  learned  savants  pause  to  drink 
in  the  ideas  that  she  has  drawn  from  the  fountain  of  common 
sense.  Her  work,  "  Facts  and  Fictions  of  Life,"  has  reached  a 
large  sale,  and  is  now  being  translated  into  German,  French  and 
Russian  and  two  Oriental  lauguages.  These  essays  deal  with 
the  most  delicate  and  least  understood  problems  of  life,  in  a 
clear,  modest  and  uncompromising  manner,  and  consist  of 
twelve  papers  read  at  the  World's  Fair  Congresses  by  the 
author,  who  was  listened  to  with  breathless  silence  by  the 
largest  audiences  of  the  Congresses,  and  after  each  paper  she 
received  most  enthusiastic  ovations. 

—  Louisville  Courier  yournal. 

For  sale  by  all  newsdealers,  or  sent  postpaid  by 

Arena  Publishing  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 


RARE  BOOK 
COLLECTION 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

CHAPEL  HILL 

Wilmer 
582 


m 

lilll; 

lliiiilillllilliiiiii^ 


.s;i':i;l! 


iiiffi: 


iiiiliiiiiiiilililiiliii 


^ruu' 


>!iimi 


■'"ill  U    i^f  nV.>"):i-l!'- 


iiliiiiiiiitiiilll 


illii 


i 


f 


u'W 


iiW^^^ 


ui,';hiii.h:,-i';(im       ' 


■I  ill       :i|iiiliiil!ii 


iitilliiiiiiiiiiliiH 

liifc,. ,iliiiii!f^ 


^iiiiiii 


,Jiiitiill||il 


'mSm 


mmm 


m 


